About this Research Topic
The amazon region is home to at least four filarial parasites (Mansonella ozzardi, Mansonella perstans, Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancrofti) that cause chronic microfilaremic infections in humans as well as an immensely diverse array of zoonotic filarial parasites that use the rich variety of rainforest wildlife in the region as their definitive hosts. The extraordinary diversity of zoonotic filarial parasites in the region coupled the region´s unique set of filarial parasite dynamics and geographic profiles creates special challenges for studies on the eco-epidemiology of ARFP. Exciting new filarial treatment strategies and monitoring methods that have recently been developed and novel treatments that are currently under development for filarial disease control in Africa are beginning to revolutionise previously stagnant ARFP treatment, control and monitoring options creating an urgent need for a deeper understanding of the eco-epidemiology of ARFPs.
The objective of this article collection is to gather together in a single archive a selection of contemporary research and perspectives on a diverse array of subjects broaching the most important questions concerning the eco-epidemiology of Amazon region filarial parasites (ARFP). Studies and perspectives on all aspects of the ecoepidemiology of all ARFP will be considered for this collection. Although priority will be given to studies focusing on Mansonella ozzardi and Mansonella perstans (the etiological agents of mansonellosis) and Onchocerca volvulus (the etiological agent of onchocerciasis), studies on all varieties of Amazon region zoonotic filarial parasites and especially zoonotic ARFP that are known or suspected of causing zoonoses will be considered.
The following themes are welcome:
- Novel methods for diagnosing and studying the ecoepidemiology of ARFP
- Studies investigating ARFP population genetics, geneflow and basic ecology
- Reports of ARFP transmission dynamics and control interventions
- Novel therapeutics that can treat or control ARFP transmission
- Novel ARFP treatment regimes
- ARFP drug resistance and the molecular mechanisms behind ARFP drug resistance
- Pathologies that ARFP parasites can cause and methods in which ARFP transmission dynamics can be monitored.
- Interaction between ARFP parasites and their Wolbachia endosymbionts and / or ARFP arthropod vectors
- ARFP vector incrimination
- Studies concerning basic ARFP parasite and vector biology and systematics.
The objective of this article collection is to gather together in a single archive a selection of contemporary research and perspectives on a diverse array of subjects broaching the most important questions concerning the eco-epidemiology of Amazon region filarial parasites (ARFP). Studies and perspectives on all aspects of the ecoepidemiology of all ARFP will be considered for this collection. Although priority will be given to studies focusing on Mansonella ozzardi and Mansonella perstans (the etiological agents of mansonellosis) and Onchocerca volvulus (the etiological agent of onchocerciasis), studies on all varieties of Amazon region zoonotic filarial parasites and especially zoonotic ARFP that are known or suspected of causing zoonoses will be considered.
The following themes are welcome:
- Novel methods for diagnosing and studying the ecoepidemiology of ARFP
- Studies investigating ARFP population genetics, geneflow and basic ecology
- Reports of ARFP transmission dynamics and control interventions
- Novel therapeutics that can treat or control ARFP transmission
- Novel ARFP treatment regimes
- ARFP drug resistance and the molecular mechanisms behind ARFP drug resistance
- Pathologies that ARFP parasites can cause and methods in which ARFP transmission dynamics can be monitored.
- Interaction between ARFP parasites and their Wolbachia endosymbionts and / or ARFP arthropod vectors
- ARFP vector incrimination
- Studies concerning basic ARFP parasite and vector biology and systematics.
Keywords: Mansonellosis, Onchocerciasis, Onchocercidae, M. ozzardi, M. perstans, Onchocerca volvulus, ecoepidemiology, filarial parasites, zoonotic filarial disease.
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