Is apoptosis involved in mechanisms to eliminate Onchocerca ochengi during Simulium damnosum s.l. immune response?

Co‐injection of the parasite Onchocerca ochengi and the caspase inhibitors z‐VAD.fmk and boc‐D.fmk into the natural vector Simulium damnosum s.l. led to significantly increased survival of the parasites. Subsequent in situ apoptosis detection assays demonstrated that in the case of boc‐D.fmk the enhanced survival was due to a diminished apoptosis level of the microfilariae in vivo. Additional assays using O. ochengi microfilariae which were coinjected with serine protease inhibitors into S. damnosum s.l. revealed that certain serine protease inhibitors can reduce the level of apoptosis.