Pharmacologists identify potential cure for tropical parasitic disease found in soil (Ivermectin with dafachronic acid)

Medical Xpress / UT Southwestern Medical Center / eLife ^ | Dec. 10, 2021 | David Mangelsdorf, Ph.D. et al

[ConservativeMind]

Combining two agents to block a parasitic worm's life cycle boosted survival from a potentially deadly tropical disease to 85% in animal models, far better than either treatment alone.

The Strongyloides infestation—brought by tiny worms known as nematodes that can enter through your feet—can cause strongyloidiasis, a chronic infection found in some 600 million worldwide. While mostly found in tropical and subtropical regions, the parasite has recently been identified in Texas, Alabama, and the Appalachian Mountains region in the eastern and northeastern U.S. and caused reported deaths in 36 of 50 states over the years. Mortality from complications with hyperinfection is up to 87% of reported cases, according to a 2020 modeling study.

"Parasitic nematodes that infect humans, animals, and plants are an enormous burden on society. We think the pathway discovered could serve as a universal target for all parasitic nematode species," said David Mangelsdorf, Ph.D.. "This strategy could potentially offer a cure for the millions of people around the world who have strongyloidiasis—the disease caused by Strongyloides stercoralis – and points to a new way to fight many other parasitic nematode diseases."

Researchers initially found that administering dafachronic acid in drinking water for two weeks reduced fecal S. stercoralis larval output by 90%. In animals that became hyperinfected, which dramatically increases mortality, treatment with ivermectin or dafachronic acid alone increased survival to about 25% and 70%, respectively. But when combined, survival climbed to about 85% and S. stercoralis infection ended, representing a potential cure, said co-author Steven A. Kliewer, Ph.D.

By purifying extracts of S. stercoralis, the team discovered that the parasite synthesizes the hormone dafachronic acid, which acts by binding to a receptor called DAF-12. Importantly, when the hormone is present at the wrong time, the parasite is unable to develop into the infectious form and dies.

[ConservativeMind]

Ivermectin addresses another issue!

[ConservativeMind]

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[cranked]

That dern horse paste, sheesh...../s

[gloryblaze]

This thread made me think of Ivermectin in relation to Lyme disease. I did a search, and apparently I’m not exactly the first one ... I think I’ll take time soon and dig a little deeper.

[ryderann]

My brother, who has Lyme disease, won’t even discuss taking Ivermectin with me. Brick wall.

[ptsal]

Bkmk ivermectin

[vetvetdoug]

S. stercoralis is missed by many physicians and veterinarians. I was fortunate to have military parasitologists train me in the difference in the rhabditiform larvae between Ancylostoma and Strongyloides. Most medical laboratory technologists cannot differentiate or identify the larvae and miss it in human patients. I found many dogs with hyperinfections of the parasite, especially dog breeders. One of my old USAF manuals referred to handling positive cases of S. stercoralis as radioactive...