CAN IVERMECTIN HELP TREAT VIRAL INFECTION?

A very short article

Ivermectin, I have been using it for more than 20 years as a drench for sheep and chews for dogs. It is also used for treating parasitic infections in humans and, I have used Ivermectin in the treatment of a wombat with mange following advice from WIRES.

A little on Coronavirus infections in humans.

The new coronavirus which causes COVID-19 infection is an RNA virus which is a collection of genetic material packed inside a protein shell.

Once this Corona RNA virus contacts a host, it starts to make new copies of itself that can go on to infect other cells.

It is probable that SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) turns straight to protein as soon as it enters a cell and because it has little genetic diversity this may be why it easily transfer to humans.

If this replication can be interrupted or stopped then the virus will not be able to multiply and cause serious illness and death that is the devastating pandemic that we now are suffering.

Ivermectin may interrupt or stop replication .

Ivermectin is a naturally occurring organism that was discovered in the around 1978 at the Kitasato Intitute, Tokyo, Japan from Japanese soil. Ivermectin, is a dihydro derivative of avermectin a naturally occurring compound generated as a fermentation product by Streptomyces avermitilis, which is a soil actinomycete and originating solely from a single microorganism.

Ivermectin binds to and destabilises a protein homodimer which prevents it from binding to the viral protein and thus preventing it from entering the nucleus of a cell.

This probably results in reduced inhibition of the natural antiviral cell responses which leads to a more efficient antiviral immune response needed can kill the virus.

Ivermectin, has proved to be a highly potent inhibitor of Yellow Fever Virus and inhibited the replication of dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and tick-borne encephalitis viruses.

Although recent reports state supplementing with Ivermectin in combination with Doxycycline an antibiotic and the mineral zinc may be useful in the treatment of COVID-19. More examination of the data are needed and this is happening now.

It is important that its use must only be advised and prescribed by a suitably qualified medical specialist. Self-treatment could have negative and potentially dangerous side effects.

Supplements including Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc and Selenium are also looking positive and are currently being investigated as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19.

Remember, hand hygiene plus social distancing and wear a mask and we will win

References

• Ivermectin is a potent inhibitor of flavivirus replication specifically targeting NS3 helicase activity: new prospects for an old drug, J Antimicrob Chemother 2012 Aug;67(8):1884-94.
• Bulletin of the World Health Organization Past issues Volume 82: 2004 Volume 82, Number 8, August 2004, 559-636
• Australian develops effective Triple Therapy to treat COVID-19 BioSpectrum, Asian Addition, 06 August 2020
• Potential Role of Zinc Supplementation in Prophylaxis and Treatment of COVID-19, Med Hypotheses. 2020 May 25
• Mariangela Rondanelli, Alessandra Miccono, et al. Self-Care for Common Colds: The Pivotal Role of Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Zinc, and Echinacea in Three Main Immune Interactive Clusters (Physical Barriers, Innate and Adaptive Immunity) Involved during an Episode of Common Colds—Practical Advice on Dosages and on the Time to Take These Nutrients/Botanicals in order to Prevent or Treat Common Colds Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2018; 2018: 5813095.
• Setright, R. Vitamin D3, The Super Nutrient: An Independent Review of Complementary Medicine Evidence, Journal of the Australian Traditional-Medicine Society 17(2):26-34 · June 2011
• Adit A. Ginde, MD, MPH; Jonathan M. et al. Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Arch. Intern. Med. 2009;169(4):384-390
• Yejin Kim , Hyemin Kim, et al. Vitamin C Is an Essential Factor on the Anti-viral Immune Responses Through the Production of Interferon-α/β at the Initial Stage of Influenza A Virus (H3N2) Infection Immune Netw, 13 (2), 70-4 Apr 2013