The Current Status of Molecular Xenomonitoring for Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis.

The Current Status of Molecular Xenomonitoring for Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis.
Trends Parasitol. 2017 Jul 27;:
Authors: Pilotte N, Unnasch TR, Williams SA
Abstract
The capacity of vector insect surveillance to provide estimates of pathogen prevalence and transmission potential has long been recognized within the global communities tasked with eliminating lymphatic filariasis (LF), the underlying cause of elephantiasis and hydrocele, and onchocerciasis (river blindness). Initially restricted to the practice of dissection, the potential of vector monitoring has grown due to the advent of molecular methods capable of increasing the sensitivity and throughput of testing. However, despite such advancement, operational research gaps remain. If insufficiently addressed, these gaps will reduce the utility of molecular xenomonitoring (MX) for onchocerciasis as elimination efforts expand into Africa. Similarly, such shortcomings will limit the programmatic usefulness of MX for LF, resulting in this technique's significant underutilization.
PMID: 28756911 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Trends in Parasitology - July 27, 2017 Category: Parasitology Authors: Pilotte N, Unnasch TR, Williams SA Tags: Trends Parasitol Source Type: research