Helminthic therapy consists of the inoculation of the patient with specific parasitic intestinal nematodes (or other helminths). A number of such organisms are currently being investigated for their use as treatment, including: Trichuris suis ova,[2][3] commonly known as pig whipworm eggs; Necator americanus,[4] commonly known as hookworms; Trichuris trichiura ova,[5] commonly referred to as human whipworm eggs; and Hymenolepis diminuta, commonly known as rat tapeworm cysticerci.
While the latter four species may be considered to be mutualists – providing benefit to their host without causing longterm harm – there are other helminth species that have demonstrated therapeutic effects but which also have a potential to cause less desirable or even harmful effects and therefore do not share the ideal characteristics for a therapeutic helminth.[6] These include Ascaris lumbricoides,[7][8] commonly known as human giant roundworm; Strongyloides stercoralis,[7][8] commonly known as human roundworm; Enterobius vermicularis,[7][8] commonly known as pinworm or threadworm; and Hymenolepis nana,[7][8] also known as dwarf tapeworm.
Helminth infection has emerged as one possible explanation for the low incidence of autoimmune diseases and allergies in less developed countries, while reduced infection rates have been linked with the significant and sustained increase in autoimmune diseases seen in industrialized countries.[9][10][11][12]
^ abFinlay, Conor; Walsh, Kevin; Mills, Kingston (2014). "Induction of regulatory cells by helminth parasites: exploitation for the treatment of inflammatory diseases". Immunological Reviews. 259 (1): 206–230. doi:10.1111/imr.12164. PMID24712468. S2CID5580919.
^Broadhurst, M. J.; Leung, J. M.; Kashyap, V.; McCune, J. M.; Mahadevan, U.; McKerrow, J. H.; Loke, P. (2010). "IL-22+ CD4+ T cells are associated with therapeutic trichuris trichiura infection in an ulcerative colitis patient". Sci Transl Med. 2 (60): 60ra88. doi:10.1126/scitranslmed.3001500. PMID21123809. S2CID27792133.
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^ abcdCorreale, Jorge; Farez, Mauricio (2007). "Association Between Parasite Infection and Immune Responses in Multiple Sclerosis". Annals of Neurology. 61 (2): 97–108. doi:10.1002/ana.21067. PMID17230481. S2CID1033417.