Discovery of Specific Antigens That Can Predict Microfilarial Intensity in Loa loa Infection

摘要

Loiasis, caused by the filarial parasite Loa loa, affects ～14 million people in Central and West Africa (1). Because the majority of infections are clinically asymptomatic and the symptomatic infections are rarely life-threatening, loiasis has been largely neglected (2). However, L. loa infection has gained importance over the past 20 years because of its negative impact on the elimination programs for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. Indeed, individuals with very high L. loa microfilariae (mf) levels can develop serious adverse events (SAEs), most notably irreversible neurological conditions (mainly encephalopathies) that can lead to coma or even death, following administration of ivermectin (IVM) during mass drug administration (MDA) campaigns (3, 4). As a result, IVM-based MDA campaigns have been interrupted or delayed in areas of Central Africa where L. loa is coendemic with either Wuchereria bancrofti or Onchocerca volvulus (5).