Loiasis

A parasitic infection caused by the nematode Loa loa. The vector in the transmission of this infection is the horsefly (Tabanus) or the deerfly or mango fly (Chrysops). The larvae may be seen just beneath the skin or passing through the conjunctiva. Eye lesions are not uncommon. The disease is generally mild and painless.

Also Known As:

Networked: 126 relevant articles (4 outcomes, 16 trials/studies)

Relationship Network

Disease Context: Research Results

Related Diseases

1.	Onchocerciasis
2.	Infection
3.	Filariasis
4.	Filarial Elephantiasis (Lymphatic Filariasis)
5.	Schistosomiasis (Bilharziasis)

Experts

1.	Wanji, Samuel: 6 articles (01/2015 - 01/2009)
2.	Boussinesq, M: 6 articles (12/2006 - 03/2000)
3.	Taylor, David W: 4 articles (07/2015 - 01/2009)
4.	Hoerauf, Achim: 4 articles (01/2014 - 01/2009)
5.	Nutman, Thomas B: 4 articles (01/2013 - 01/2003)
6.	Tendongfor, Nicholas: 3 articles (01/2015 - 01/2009)
7.	Kelly-Hope, Louise A: 3 articles (01/2014 - 01/2011)
8.	Bockarie, Moses J: 3 articles (01/2014 - 01/2011)
9.	Taylor, Mark J: 3 articles (01/2014 - 01/2009)
10.	Molyneux, David H: 3 articles (01/2014 - 01/2011)

Drugs and Biologics

Drugs and Important Biological Agents (IBA) related to Loiasis:

1.	Ivermectin (Mectizan)FDA Link 02/01/1993 - "Tolerance and efficacy of single high-dose ivermectin for the treatment of loiasis." 08/01/2006 - "Ivermectin has been shown to be an effective treatment of loiasis. " 03/01/1991 - "[Therapeutic trial with ivermectin in loiasis with medium and high microfilaremia]." 01/01/2015 - "As programmatic goals shift from reducing public health impact to active elimination, sole reliance on ivermectin is threatened by contraindications in areas coendemic for loiasis, an inability to break transmission in some foci, and the emergence of drug resistance. " 01/01/2013 - "As large-scale administration of ivermetine was demonstrated to be an efficient means to control loiasis transmission, it was hypothesized that CDTI would have lowered or halted the transmission of Loa loa in the Lekie division after 13 years of annual drug administration, indicating a possible reduction in the occurrence of Loa-related post-ivermectin severe adverse events. "
2.	Carbon MonoxideIBA 01/01/2015 - "Geographical coverage fell in 2005 due to deaths in loiasis co-endemic areas, and the therapeutic coverage fell in 2008 due to insecurity. " 01/01/2006 - "In Africa, the expansion of existing PELFs and the initiation of new ones have been hampered by lack of resources, technical difficulties with the mapping of LF endemicity, and the co-endemicity of LF and loiasis. " 01/01/2015 - "However, transmission is still going on in this study site where loiasis and onchocerciasis are co-endemic and where ecological factors strongly favour the onchocerciasis transmission. " 07/01/2015 - "Our modelling results indicate that the deployment of an onchocerciasis vaccine would have a beneficial impact in onchocerciasis-loiasis co-endemic areas, markedly reducing microfilarial load in the young (under 20 yr) age groups. " 03/01/2015 - "Co-endemicity of loiasis and onchocerciasis in rain forest communities in southwestern Nigeria."
3.	Albendazole (Albenza)FDA Link 07/01/1993 - "To assess the filaricidal activity and clinical safety of albendazole in human loiasis, a double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in an endemic area in Benin, Africa. " 07/01/1993 - "Albendazole in human loiasis: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial." 08/01/2004 - "Human loiasis in a Cameroonian village: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial of a three-day albendazole regimen." 09/01/1999 - "In summary, albendazole may be useful for the treatment of loiasis when diethylcarbamazine is ineffective or cannot be used." 09/01/1999 - "On the basis of a study of albendazole treatment of loiasis in microfilaremic patients that suggested a macrofilaricidal effect of the drug, we treated three patients who had symptomatic loiasis refractory to more than four courses of diethylcarbamazine with albendazole. "
4.	Diethylcarbamazine (Hetrazan)FDA Link 03/01/1994 - "Although successful treatment of loiasis with diethylcarbamazine (DEC) has been reported, little is known about the long-term success rate of therapy or the predisposing factors for treatment failure. " 03/01/1994 - "Effectiveness of diethylcarbamazine in treating loiasis acquired by expatriate visitors to endemic regions: long-term follow-up." 02/02/1989 - "Diethylcarbamazine and human loiasis." 09/22/1988 - "We conclude that diethylcarbamazine given orally once weekly can be an effective, acceptable chemoprophylactic agent to prevent loiasis in temporary residents of regions of Africa where Loa loa is endemic." 09/22/1988 - "No volunteer in either group in these countries had overt loiasis; 2 of 40 (5 percent) in the placebo groups in Cameroon and the Central African Republic seroconverted, as compared with none of 25 (0 percent) of those receiving diethylcarbamazine. "
5.	DipetalonemiasisIBA 10/30/1980 - "The aim of the study is to establish the prevalence of loaiasis, dipetalonemiasis, tetrapetalonemiasis, with particular emphasis on T. " 07/01/1997 - "loa endemic area where loiasis exists sympatrically with Mansonella perstans); (2) from Togo (12 individuals infected with Onchocerca volvulus and M. " 01/01/1997 - "loaendemic area of Gabon where loiasis exists sympatrically with Mansonella perstans, and from individuals from a loiasis-free area in Togo infected concomitantly with M. " 03/01/1987 - "This ELISA could successfully differentiate onchocerciasis from dipetalonemiasis and loiasis." 03/01/1987 - "volvulus microfilariae (n = 81), 0.49 in microfilariae-negatives from the same endemic area (n = 39), 0.15 in dipetalonemiasis (n = 27), and 0.25 in loiasis (n = 12), while those of 65 Dipetalonema perstans-negative people were markedly low (average 0.14) and that of 22 Loa loa-negatives, 0.22, respectively. "
6.	AntigensIBA 11/01/1972 - "[Serological study of loaiasis by Ouchterlony's method using a homologous antigen]." 06/01/1994 - "The increased incidence of "allergic" symptomatology and clinical complications seen in non-endemic individuals with loiasis, as compared to natives of endemic areas, is thought to reflect a heightened immune response to filarial antigens. " 06/01/1991 - "These findings support the hypothesis that differences in the modulation of the immune response to parasite antigen are responsible for the observed differences in clinical presentation between expatriate and endemic populations with loiasis." 12/01/1989 - "Somatic antigens of Loa loa adult worms with molecular weights of 15-180 kDa were identified by Western blot analysis using sera from 3 categories of parasitologically and clinically defined subjects from a loiasis endemic zone. " 12/01/1989 - "Differential recognition of Loa loa antigens by sera of human subjects from a loiasis endemic zone."
7.	Immunoglobulin G (IgG)IBA 04/01/1998 - "In this study we evaluated an IgG4 antibody-based ELISA using crude extract of Loa loa microfilariae (which is easier to obtain than adult worm) to estimate the prevalence of loiasis in 3 villages in South-East Gabon. " 07/05/2003 - "Loiasis was diagnosed by means of positive IgG4 serology against Loa loa. " 03/01/2002 - "Expression of filarial-specific IgG subclasses under different transmission intensities in a region endemic for loiasis." 07/01/1999 - "[Comparative analysis of 2 diagnostic methods of human loiasis: IgG4 serology and nested PCR]." 04/01/1998 - "The mean IgG4 level in these putatively occult loiasis patients was slightly but significantly lower than in microfilaraemic subjects (P < 0.03). "
8.	Doxycycline (Vibramycin)FDA LinkGeneric 01/01/2001 - "Doxycycline and eradication of microfilaremia in patients with loiasis." 01/01/2009 - "This study indicates that when empowered the community health implementers can successfully deliver doxycycline for six weeks for the treatment of onchocerciasis in areas of co-endemicity with loiasis. " 01/01/2009 - "This study assessed the feasibility of a large-scale distribution of doxycycline for the treatment of onchocerciasis in areas of co-endemicity with loiasis using a community-directed approach. " 01/01/2009 - "Community-directed delivery of doxycycline for the treatment of onchocerciasis in areas of co-endemicity with loiasis in Cameroon." 01/01/2009 - "However, doxycycline can be used for the treatment of individuals outside transmission areas, in foci where ivermectin resistance may occur, and in countries where onchocerciasis and loiasis are co-endemic."
9.	Antigen-Antibody Complex (Immune Complex)IBA 12/01/1996 - "These preliminary studies were carried out to develop diagnostic tools for loiasis and to study the physiopathology of immune complexes."
10.	melarsonic acid (melarsonyl potassium)IBA 08/31/1961 - "[Therapeutic trials of Mel W in onchocerciasis and loiasis]."

Therapies and Procedures

1.	Chemoprevention 12/01/1961 - "Studies on the chemoprophylaxis of loiasis. " 01/01/1968 - "Previous work on monkeys and on human volunteers led to the development of a schedule of diethylcarbamazine dosage suitable for the chemoprophylaxis of loiasis. "
2.	Blood Component Removal (Apheresis) 01/04/1986 - "Apheresis in the management of loiasis with high microfilariaemia and renal disease." 10/22/1983 - "Usefulness of apheresis to extract microfilarias in the management of loiasis." 08/20/1983 - "Usefulness of apheresis to extract microfilarias in management of loiasis." 08/20/1983 - "Two patients with loiasis in whom treatment with diethylcarbamazine had to be interrupted because of serious side effects underwent apheresis to extract microfilarias from the blood. "
3.	Aftercare (After-Treatment) 01/01/1989 - "Although microfilaraemia was not detectable, loiasis was diagnosed, given the clinical manifestations, epidemiological data, history of sub-conjunctival migration of the adult worm (in one case), spectacular recovery (clinical and biological) after treatment with diethylcarbamazine. " 12/01/2006 - "The burden posed by loiasis is probably under-estimated and, in addition, individuals harbouring high Loa microfilarial loads are at risk of developing serious neurological reactions after treatment with diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin. " 05/01/2011 - "We report a case of loiasis with unusual clinical complications: a peripheral neuropathy and focal hypo-echogenic lesions of the spleen, which disappeared after treatment with albendazole and ivermectin. "
4.	Mosquito Nets 01/01/2013 - "LF prevalence distributions; predicted prevalence of loiasis; ongoing onchocerciasis community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTi); and long-lasting insecticidal mosquito net (LLIN) distributions for malaria were incorporated into overlay maps using geographical information system (GIS) software. "
5.	Splenectomy 11/01/1996 - "Splenectomy for suspected malignant lymphoma in two patients with loiasis."