Elephantiasis in domination

1990/12/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

A group of researchers from Indonesia and North America have achieved great success in fighting a parasite that deforms parts of people's bodies. One of the two parasites that causes elephantiasis, Brugia malayi, has been able to grow in laboratory. This allows to accelerate the process of searching for new drugs.

This disease that spreads through mosquitoes only develops in adults. The legs, arms, and genitals swell by obstructing the lymphatic system. If detected early can be cured with diethylcarbamazine.

Otherwise, doses of this medicine should be taken for more than six weeks, which is not possible in impoverished countries. The aim of the researchers is to find a drug that should only be given in one dose.

Therefore, what has been achieved now represents an important advance in the search for the new drug.