Human Filariasis

Culicoides Species of the Rain Forest Belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon: Their Incrimination in the Transmission of Mansonella perstans

“…However, the epidemiology of Culicoides and their role in the transmission of M. perstans in other regions of Cameroon, such as the Littoral Region, remain unknown. Thus, this study aimed to identify the different Culicoides species in the rain forest belt of the Littoral Region of Cameroon and to determine their role in the transmission of M. perstans , the most widespread filarial nematode in sub-Saharan Africa [ 17 ]. We also aimed to investigate the differences, if any, as a result of human activities that exist between the ecology of this rain forest belt and that of the south-west region.…”

Comparative development of human filariae Loa loa, Onchocerca volvulus and Mansonella perstans in immunocompromised mouse strains

“…The human filariae Mansonella perstans, Loa loa and Onchocerca volvulus affect more than 240 million individuals. Whereas Loa loa is only prevalent in Western and Central Africa, M. perstans and O. volvulus are endemic throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South and Central America ( 1 , 2 ). All three parasites are vector-borne diseases and transmission depend on Culicoides midges for M. perstans ( 3 , 4 ), Chrysops flies for Loa loa ( 5 ) and Simulium black flies for O. volvulus ( 6 ).…”

“…Fertile female adult worms produce the microfilariae (MF) that circulate in the peripheral blood ( M. perstans and Loa loa ) ( 7 , 8 ) or subcutaneous tissue ( O. volvulus ) ( 10 ), which can be taken up by the corresponding vectors during another blood meal. Whereas no distinct severe clinical symptoms have been associated with M. perstans ( 1 ), loiasis is associated with Calabar swelling, pruritis, arthralgia and eye worm ( 11 ) and onchocerciasis can cause papular dermatitis, skin hyperpigmentation or depigmentation (leopard skin) and vision loss ( 12 , 13 ). Nevertheless, the majority of filarial infections remain asymptomatic due to the strong modulation of the host immunity which promotes survival of the parasites ( 14 – 16 ).…”

The design and development of a study protocol to investigate Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa and Mansonella perstans-mediated modulation of the metabolic and immunological profile in lean and obese individuals in Cameroon

“…In contrast, Mansonella perstans, with estimated 120 million people infected, is in general not associated with unambiguous clinical symptoms [11]. Loa loa, another filaria present in sub-Saharan Africa can cause pruritus, oedema, Calabar swelling and the transient migration of adult worms through the eye, giving it its common name African eye worm [12][13][14][15][16][17]. In order to escape protective host immune responses and to suppress the development of host pathology, filarial infections modulate the immune system of their hosts [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27].…”