Vaccines Against Elephantiasis Could Make Infection Spread More Easily

A new study has revealed that potential vaccines against elephantiasis might make the infection spread more easily through communities.

The conclusion is based on the finding that parasitic worms can adjust their survival strategy based on their host's immune response.

About Mosquito Diseases
Mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria, filaria, dengue, etc are common in places conducive of mosquito breeding. Swamps, ponds and stagnated drainage provide optimal breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Tiny filaria worms carried by mosquitoes block the lymph vessels that normally drain fluid from limbs or genitals, which then swell to grotesque proportions.

Simon Babayan at the University of Edinburgh, UK, and colleagues, have discovered that some vaccines may make the worms worse, reports New Scientist.

When filaria worms in mice sense that the mouse is mounting a strong immune reaction, they change their life cycle, producing more offspring in the blood earlier.

Filariasis - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment , FAQs
Filariasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods, mainly black flies and mosquitoes.

This helps the worm ensure that it will be picked up and transmitted by another mosquito despite the immune attack.

Unfortunately, experimental vaccines rely on the very immune reactions that warn the worms, said Babayan.

Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about Dengue and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever

People who get such a vaccine may defeat their own infection, but the worms' early response means they will pass on more infections.

Babayan said potential vaccines should be tested for whether their targets adapt to them in this way.

Malaria
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general information about About Malaria Causes

Source-ANI