Distinct loiasis infection states and associated clinical and hematological manifestations in patients from Gabon

Background Loiasis-a filarial disease endemic in Central and West Africa-is increasingly recognized as significant individual and public health concern. While the understanding of the disease characteristics remains limited, significant morbidity and excess mortality have been demonstrated. Here, we...

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Published in:PLoS neglected tropical diseases 2022-09, Vol.16 (9), p.e0010793-e0010793
Main Authors: Veletzky, Luzia, Eberhardt, Kirsten Alexandra, Hergeth, Jennifer, Stelzl, Daniel Robert, Zoleko Manego, Rella, Mombo-Ngoma, Ghyslain, Kreuzmair, Ruth, Burger, Gerrit, Adegnika, Ayôla Akim, Agnandji, Selidji Todagbe, Matsiegui, Pierre Blaise, Boussinesq, Michel, Mordmüller, Benjamin, Ramharter, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Biology and Life Sciences
Blood
Blood diseases
Cohorts
Confidence intervals
Data collection
Diagnosis
Diseases
Eosinophilia
Filariasis
Haemoglobin
Health aspects
Hematology
Hemoglobin
Infections
Leukocytes (eosinophilic)
Medical examination
Medicine and Health Sciences
Morbidity
Patient outcomes
Patients
Public health
Questionnaires
Risk factors
Statistical analysis
Surveying
Travelers
Tropical diseases
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Summary:Background Loiasis-a filarial disease endemic in Central and West Africa-is increasingly recognized as significant individual and public health concern. While the understanding of the disease characteristics remains limited, significant morbidity and excess mortality have been demonstrated. Here, we characterize clinical and hematological findings in a large cohort from Gabon. Methods Loiasis-related clinical manifestations and microfilaremia, hemoglobin and differential blood counts were recorded prospectively during a cross-sectional survey. For analysis, participants were categorized into distinct infection states by the diagnostic criteria of eye worm history and microfilaremia. Results Analysis of data from 1,232 individuals showed that occurrence of clinical and hematological findings differed significantly between the infection states. Eye worm positivity was associated with a wide range of clinical manifestations while microfilaremia by itself was not. Loa loa infection was associated with presence of eosinophilia and absolute eosinophil counts were associated with extent of microfilaremia (p-adj. = 0.012, ß-estimate:0.17[0.04-0.31]). Conclusions Loiasis is a complex disease, causing different disease manifestations in patients from endemic regions. The consequences for the affected individuals or populations as well as the pathophysiological consequences of correlating eosinophilia are largely unknown. High-quality research on loiasis should be fostered to improve patient care and understanding of the disease.
ISSN:1935-2735
1935-2727
1935-2735
DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0010793