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Loiasis

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Neglected Tropical Diseases - Sub-Saharan Africa

Part of the book series: Neglected Tropical Diseases ((NTD))

Abstract

Loiasis, also known as African eye worm is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by the filarial nematode Loa loa and transmitted by the bite of tabanid vectors (Chrysops dimidiate) from the genus Chrysops. The real burden of the disease is not known, but L. loa remains wrongly classified as a benign disease. Loiasis exists exclusively in Africa where it is mainly focalized in the big areas of Central Africa. The prevalence of the disease rarely exceeds 30 % in endemic communities; however, the disease has become important because of the serious adverse events which occur in some heavily infected patients after treatment with Mectizan for onchocerciasis or lymphatic filariasis. The life cycle of the parasite takes about 10 days in the vector (intermediate host) and about 3 months in humans (definite host). The passage of the adult worm in the bulbar conjunctiva is the classic manifestation of loiasis. Other manifestations are common migratory transient oedema (Calabar swellings). Both of these are used in the clinical diagnosis, complemented by microscopy for microfilaria. Rare but serious manifestations of Loa loa such as encephalitis, glomerular damage, retinal damage, endomyocardial fibrosis, albuminuria and hydrocele may also occur. Both surgical removal of adult worms and chemotherapy are used for managing L. loa. Currently Diethylcarbamazine (DEC), Mectizan®, mebendazole (MBZ) and albendazole (ALB)) are effective in varying degrees against mf and/or adult L. loa, while further research is needed to improve the efficacy of ALB in the management of L. loa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, 1364, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Joseph Kamgno

  2. Centre for Research on Filariasis and Other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), 5797, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Joseph Kamgno, Hugues Clotaire Nana-Djeunga & Marc Kouam-Kenmogne

  3. Parasitology and Ecology Laboratory, Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1, 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    Hugues Clotaire Nana-Djeunga

  4. Department of Animal Production, University of Dschang, 222, Dschang, Cameroon

    Marc Kouam-Kenmogne

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  1. Joseph Kamgno
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Correspondence to Joseph Kamgno .

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  1. Ofc of Research, Innovation & Dev, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

    John Gyapong

  2. Lymphatic Filariasis Support Centre, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

    Boakye Boatin

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Kamgno, J., Nana-Djeunga, H.C., Kouam-Kenmogne, M. (2016). Loiasis. In: Gyapong, J., Boatin, B. (eds) Neglected Tropical Diseases - Sub-Saharan Africa. Neglected Tropical Diseases. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25471-5_7

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