Innovative strategies to tackle parasitic worms

Approximately 1.5 billion people globally are affected by soil-transmitted helminthiasis and another 250 million suffer from schistosomiasis; two of the most common parasitic worm infections. They are transmitted by different species of parasitic worms in the soil or water and can result in diarrhoea, malnutrition, impaired growth and enlargement of the liver or spleen. The morbidity caused by chronic helminth infections can debilitate entire communities and contribute to poverty in endemic areas.

160 scientists gather in Basel

To review current strategies and to discuss new ways of preventing, controlling and eliminating helminth infections, the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) is hosting a two-day symposium in Basel, Switzerland.

Over 160 scientists and experts are on hand to critically review innovations in diagnostics and drugs and to discuss control strategies to interrupt transmission of parasitic worm infections. One presentation will show results from Zanzibar that demonstrate how a multifaceted intervention package can reduce prevalence of infection among school-aged children to less than 2%.

“Although parasitic worms affect one out of five people worldwide, they belong to the so-called neglected tropical diseases, which are intimately linked to poverty,” says Jürg Utzinger, Director of Swiss TPH. “While we see certain progress, we need to further foster innovation, refine existing tools and strategies and employ integrated control approaches that are tailored to social-ecological contexts.”

“New drugs urgently needed”

Innovations are urgently needed in drug discovery and development. “Our research indicates that efficacy of current anthelminthic drugs is declining,” says Jennifer Keiser, Head of the Helminth Drug Development Unit at Swiss TPH and recently appointed Associate Professor of Neglected Tropical Diseases at the University of Basel. “Hence, there is a pressing need to discover and develop new drugs and rigorously evaluate potential combination therapies. This symposium is a terrific opportunity for Swiss TPH to showcase our existing partnerships and to develop new collaborations.”

Leading institute in tackling helminthiases

Swiss TPH is one of the world’s leading institutions for researching and developing new treatments, conducting clinical trials and implementing control and elimination initiatives in the area of parasitic worm infection. Swiss TPH partners with local, national and international organisations, such as the Pediatric Praziquantel Consortium, the Tribendimidine Consortium and the Tomsk Opisthorchiasis Consortium. Swiss TPH also hosts the WHO Collaborating Centre for Epidemiology and Control of Helminth Infections.

About Swiss TPH

The Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute is a world-leading institute in global health with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Associated with the University of Basel, Swiss TPH combines research, services, and education and training at the local, national and international level. Over 800 people from more than 70 nations work at Swiss TPH focusing on infectious and non-communicable diseases, environment, society and health as well as health systems and interventions. www.swisstph.ch

More on parasitic worm infections at Swiss TPH: www.swisstph.ch/helminths
More on the Swiss TPH Winter Symposium: https://www.swisstph.ch/en/about/events/winter-symposium-2017
Programme Winter Symposium: https://www.swisstph.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/SwissTPH/Events/Symposia/WS2017/Pr…