Genetic polymorphism of the β-tubulin gene of Onchocerca volvulus in ivermectin naïve patients from Cameroon, and its relationship with fertility of the worms

• Published in: Parasitology Vol. 132; no. 2; pp. 255 - 262
• Main Authors: BOURGUINAT, C., PION, S. D. S., KAMGNO, J., GARDON, J., GARDON-WENDEL, N., DUKE, B. O. L., PRICHARD, R. K., BOUSSINESQ, M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.02.2006
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Antiparasitic Agents - therapeutic use; Cameroon; Child; Drug Resistance; Female; fertility; Fertility - genetics; Gene Frequency - genetics; genetic polymorphism; Genotype; Humans; Ivermectin - therapeutic use; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Onchocerca volvulus; Onchocerca volvulus - genetics; Onchocerca volvulus - isolation & purification; Onchocerca volvulus - physiology; Onchocerciasis - drug therapy; Onchocerciasis - parasitology; Phenotype; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Polymorphism, Genetic - physiology; Tubulin - genetics; β-tubulin; Cameroon; Onchocerca volvulus; Cameroon; genetic polymorphism; β-tubulin; fertility

Observations of low response of patients infected with Onchocerca volvulus to ivermectin suggest that the parasite may be under a selection process toward potential resistance. To limit the extension of this phenomenon, it is crucial to characterize the genes of O. volvulus that are involved. For th...