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Onchocerciasis – River Blindness Does Pharma Hold the Answer? Nataskia Lampe, PhD Student

Onchocerciasis – River Blindness Does Pharma Hold the Answer? Nataskia Lampe, PhD Student. Walden University PUBH 8165-1 Instructor: Dr. Shana Morell Spring 2009. Learning Objective.

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Onchocerciasis – River Blindness Does Pharma Hold the Answer? Nataskia Lampe, PhD Student

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  1. Onchocerciasis – River Blindness Does Pharma Hold the Answer?Nataskia Lampe, PhD Student Walden University PUBH 8165-1 Instructor: Dr. Shana Morell Spring 2009

  2. Learning Objective • Inform the audience of pharmaceutical representatives, government officials, and humanitarian organizations of Onchocerciasis (River Blindness). • Identify the cause and source of infection • Define the disease state and its social impact in effected countries. • Acknowledge the hurdles and identify the public health risk. • Offer a solution.

  3. Onchocerciasis Defined • Onchocerciasis (River Blindness) is caused by the bite of an black fly infected by the parasite Onchocerca volvulus (worm). • The blackfly, Simulium damnosum, the vector of Onchocerca volvulus, the parasite which causes onchocerciasis (river blindness) • CDC Fact Sheet - Reviewed September 11, 2008 From httD://www.cdc.aov/ncidod/dDd/Darasites/onchocerciasis/factsht onchocerciasis.pdf – retrieved April 2009

  4. Signs and Symptoms of Onchocerciasis The infection usually presents with one or more conditions: • Dermatitis • Eye lesions • Subcutaneous nodules A skin biopsy is used to identify the parasite microscopically which is then treated with an oral medicine called Ivermectin. CDC Fact Sheet - Reviewed September 11, 2008 From httD://www.cdc.aov/ncidod/dDd/Darasites/onchocerciasis/factsht onchocerciasis.pdf – retrieved April 2009

  5. Signs and Symptoms A patient infected suffering from river blindness. This elderly man shows nodules, skin changes and blindness, all manifestations of the disease. http://www.icp.ucl.ac.be/~opperd/parasites/onch1.html - retrieved April 2009

  6. Signs and Symptoms Onchocerca volvulus: nodules (removed from under the skin of infected people) contain the adult worms. http://www.icp.ucl.ac.be/~opperd/parasites/onch1.html - retrieved April 2009

  7. Where is Onchoceriasis Africa • Remote agricultural villages usually near flowing streams. South America • Mexico • Guatemala • Ecuador • Venezuela • Colombia • Brazil Yemen CDC Fact Sheet - Reviewed September 11, 2008 From httD://www.cdc.aov/ncidod/dDd/Darasites/onchocerciasis/factsht onchocerciasis.pdf – retrieved April 2009

  8. Incidence and Prevalence “The World Health Organization (WHO) expert committee on Onchocerciasis estimates the global prevalence is 17.7 million, of whom about 270,000 are blind and another 500,000 have visual impairment. About 99% of infected persons are in Africa; the remainder is in Yemen and six countries in the Americas.” CDC Fact Sheet - Reviewed September 11, 2008 From httD://www.cdc.aov/ncidod/dDd/Darasites/onchocerciasis/factsht onchocerciasis.pdf – retrieved April 2009

  9. How is Onchocerciasis Treated? Onchocerciasis is commonly treated with an oral medicine called Ivermectin provided by the pharmaceutical company Merck. CDC Fact Sheet - Reviewed September 11, 2008 From httD://www.cdc.aov/ncidod/dDd/Darasites/onchocerciasis/factsht onchocerciasis.pdf – retrieved April 2009

  10. Onchocerciasis Programs of Prevention • Insecticide initiatives – vast arial spraying of the regional rivers and waterways to annihilate the blackfly and its parasitic infection preventing human infection. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness http://www.icp.ucl.ac.be/~opperd/parasites/onch1.html - retrieved April 2009

  11. Who’s at Risk? • 78 millon people are estimated to be at risk. http://www.icp.ucl.ac.be/~opperd/parasites/onch1.html - retrieved April 2009 • About 85.5 million people in 35 countries live in endemic areas. http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1204593-overview - retrieved April 2009

  12. Overview of the Public Health Issue • Ivermectin has proven successful as a treatment no means of prevention has proven successful there are still patients at risk for developing the disease • Initiatives to prevent has focused on the elimination of the vector – the back fly which results in additional public health issues of insecticide usage in the water ways and environment. • The socioeconomic impact effects the poorest of the poor • Better and more efficient means of prevention is needed for the already infected and future infected individuals

  13. The Solution • Vaccine development for the treatment of Onchocerciasis has not been successful to date. • This research initiative will need the support and financial backing of partnerships with the many stakeholders effected by this disease.

  14. Pharma Advantage • The pharma industry may hold the key to further development of effective treatments for Onchoceriasis. • The Additive resources and expense may be partnered with governments and global aid organizations in the development of a more efficacious vaccine treatment than currently available.

  15. Government and Humanitarian Organizations Advantage • The fundamental goal would be to develop a preventative treatment to reduce the incidence of Onchoceriasis in the developing world. A government focused initiative with beneficial tax incentives and resource based aid would enhance the research and development ability of the pharma industry.

  16. Stakeholders • People in the African Community as well as Health care workers and public health professionals in the community • National Institutes of Health (NIH) • World Health Organization (WHO) • Pharmaceutical Companies • African Countries Government • Government of Developing Countries • Global Health Authorities • Academia

  17. Stakeholders Advantage • Stakeholders would employ additional oversight of program initiatives. • Building infrastructures for availability and accessibility of the vaccine as well as support of the development process. • Partnerships between government, and organizations such as WHO will build a network of oversight and support to expedite the science and development process.

  18. Conclusion The burden outweighs the risk of vaccine development for a comparatively small global population – however, the incidence and prevalence of Onchoceriasis may be under control the factors of biological equivalence lurks in the possibility of vector evolution.

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