Researchers of the ULE participate in a project on intestinal parasites

Researchers of the ULE participate in a project on intestinal parasites https://i0.wp.com/www.eresviral.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Investigadores-de-la-ULE-participan-en-un-proyecto-sobre-parásitos-intestinales.png?fit=260%2C40&ssl=1

Researchers of the ULE participate in a project on intestinal parasites







The Group of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases of the University of León (ULE) (Spain), led by Rafael Balaña Fouce, participated on October 10 and 11 in the first meeting of the STOP project, an initiative financed by the EDCTP and coordinated by ISGlobal (center promoted by the Banca La Caixa Barcelona Foundation), which will carry out an important investigation aimed at improving the treatment of intestinal parasites and their transmission to children in tropical areas.



María Martínez Valladares, a researcher at the ULE group, explained that the ULE group "has been working for more than ten years developing new molecular techniques that allow us to detect the presence of resistance to benzimidazole drugs, the group of which more is used against gastrointestinal parasites of ruminants, primarily sheep. "



It happens that these same drugs are also used in human medicine to fight infections by parasites transmitted through the soil. For that reason, "in the STOP project, -explains María Valladares-, we are going to apply this knowledge to design new techniques that allow us to detect the resistance in different species of helminth parasites that infect people".



"Finally, the ULE researcher points out, after the validation of the techniques, we will carry out an important work of training in Kenya, Ethiopia and Mozambique, which will be where the study of resistances will be carried out."







Intestinal parasites. (Photo: DICYT)



The project consortium, which is composed of eight European and African institutions, including a pharmaceutical laboratory, will evaluate whether a combination of ivermectin and albendazole at a fixed dose is safe and effective to treat different intestinal helminths, and eventually help to interrupt its transmission .



Helminths transmitted through the soil (Ascaris, Trichuris, Uncinaria and Strongyloides) particularly affect children populations living in tropical areas with poor hygiene and health conditions. Infected children suffer from malnutrition and less physical and cognitive development. The strategy recommended by WHO to control helminthiasis is the massive administration (preschool and school) of the anthelmintic albendazole. The drug is safe, but its efficacy against Trichuris has decreased below 30%, and is practically nil for Strongyloides. In addition, there is a risk that resistance will appear against the drug.



"This project responds to two problems of the current strategy: the suboptimal efficacy of albendazole and the possible emergence of resistance to it," explained project coordinator Jose Muñoz, ISGlobal researcher and head of the international health service at Hospital Clinic.



The research aims to add ivermectin to the treatment, to increase the effectiveness against the different helminths and reduce the possibility of the appearance of resistance, since these are two different drugs. "One of the strengths of this project is that it incorporates veterinarians, who have been working on resistance to anthelmintics used in animals for years," adds Muñoz.



The central pillar of the four-year project will be a clinical trial in three African countries with moderate to high prevalence of these helminthiases: Kenya, Mozambique and Ethiopia. The trial will include more than 2,000 schoolchildren and compare the efficacy of albendazole alone, versus a co-formulation of albendazole and ivermectin at a fixed dose.



It should be noted that the research team will use molecular amplification techniques, more sensitive than microscopy, to detect the presence in feces of eggs of different worms, before and after treatment. These techniques will also be used to monitor the presence of genes related to drug resistance. The project also foresees the strengthening of capacities and collaborations in the countries in which the clinical trial will be carried out.



"If the results are positive, we hope to obtain the market authorization for the new formulation and influence authorities and health agencies to change the control strategy of these helminthiases," explains project manager Marc Fernandez. This new strategy could have a huge impact on the reduction in the burden and transmission of this disease globally and thus contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, concludes Muñoz.



The members of the consortium coordinated by ISGlobal are: the university medical center of Leiden, the Netherlands (LUMC), the Bahir Dar University, Ethiopia, the tropical medicine and hygiene school of London (LSHTM), the Liconsa laboratories, Spain, the institute of Medical Research in Kenya (KEMRI), the University of León, Spain, and the Health Research Center of Manhiça, Mozambique (CISM). (Source: ULE / DICYT)

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