A NEW CLASS OF ANTI-FILARIASIS COMPOUNDS - A PRELIMINARY LOOK

Parasitic nematode worms which produce filariasis in humans place appr oximately one billion people at risk in more than 75 countries. More t han 100 million people are infected with these diseases and are recogn ized as being of significant military importance. During World War II, filariasis was among the leading causes of medical evacuation from th e entire South Pacific area. Agents available to treat the diseases ex hibit significant toxicity. Better drugs are urgently needed. Data are reported from work using a Mongolian jird animal model on a new class of potential drugs, thiosemicarbazones. These compounds exhibit activ ity against the parasites which cause both lymphatic filariasis and th e ''onchocerciasis type'' of the disease.