Publications

relationships between wuchereria bancrofti microfilaria counts in human blood and parasite uptake and maturation in culex pipiens, with observations on the effects of diethylcarbamazine treatment on these parameters.	this study examined relationships between blood microfilaria (mf) counts and parasite uptake and maturation in culex pipiens fed on egyptian volunteers with bancroftian filariasis. uptake of mf and production of infective larvae (l3) were more closely correlated with mf counts in finger prick blood than in venous blood. only a minority of ingested mf developed into l3. few mf were ingested, and very few l3 were produced by mosquitoes that fed on infected subjects who were amicrofilaremic by 50 m ...	2003	12685631
mapping of lymphatic filariasis in nepal.	background: human infection with wuchereria bancrofti causes a disabling parasitic disease known as lymphatic filariasis, which is a major public health and socio-economic problem in many parts of the world. at the onset of the study, little was known of the distribution of filariasis and its current importance as a public health problem in nepal. methods: epidemiological mapping was undertaken to determine the prevalence of infection by wuchereria bancrofti in 37 districts of nepal between july ...	2003	12694630
a simple and rapid dna extraction method for the detection of wuchereria bancrofti infection in the vector mosquito, culex quinquefasciatus by ssp i pcr assay.	a simple, rapid and inexpensive method for the extraction of dna from filarial vector, culex quinquefasciatus, useful in ssp i pcr assay for xenomonitoring of infection with wuchereria bancrofti is presented. the dna extracted by this method was found suitable for pcr detection of w. bancrofti infection in pools of 10-30 mosquitoes. the pcr assay employing the simplified dna extraction method was evaluated for its sensitivity on field caught cx. quinquefasciatus, in comparison with the conventio ...	2003	12711110
localisation and distribution of wuchereria bancrofti antigens recognised by antisera from tropical pulmonary eosinophilia and from individuals with intestinal helminths.	serological analyses of sera from patients with a typical picture of filarial tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (tpe) and sera from patients from a region non-endemic for filariasis harbouring intestinal helminths, as ascaris lumbricoides and strongyloids stercoralis, revealed equally high titers of igg4, usually considered diagnostic for filariasis. ultrathin sections of adult worms of w. bancrofti embedded in the hydrophilic resin l.r. white were incubated with sera from patients with a typical ...	2003	12762653
reproductive aspects of the mosquito culex quinquefasciatus (diptera:culicidae) infected with wuchereria bancrofti (spirurida: onchocercidae).	this study reports on the relationship between wuchereria bancrofti infection and female body size, intake of blood and fecundity in the mosquito culex quinquefasciatus, vector of this filarial parasite in recife (brazil). adults from field collected larvae were infected via a membrane feeding procedure, using blood with parasitaemia ranging from 724-6,000 mf/ml. a positive correlation was observed between mosquito size (measured by wing length) and egg production in uninfected females. however, ...	2003	12764437
targeting apoptotic signalling pathway and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression as therapeutic intervention in tpe induced lung damage.	tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (tpe) is an occult manifestation of filariasis, brought about by helminth parasites wuchereria bancrofti and brugia malayi. treatment of patients suffering from tpe involves the administration of diethyl carbamazine and ivermectin. although the drugs are able to block acute inflammation, they are not able to alleviate chronic basal inflammation. we have attempted to examine the disease by targeting two important components; namely filarial parasitic sheath protein ...	2003	12788054
antigenemia is associated with low antibody response to carbohydrate determinants of a filarial surface antigen.	the igg response to a filarial surface antigen (dssdi) was evaluated in circulating antigen (og4c3 test) positive and negative individuals from the wuchereria bancrofti endemic region of orissa, india. circulating filarial antigen (cfa) positive individuals exhibited depressed antibody levels to dssdi and individuals with high antibody levels were invariably cfa negative. low igg levels to dssdi are associated with cfa positivity irrespective of microfilaraemia and clinical status. thus asymptom ...	2003	12791107
health research in papua new guinea.	the papua new guinea institute of medical research (pngimr) is one of the most respected health research institutions in the developing world, and its studies of the local health problems of png have consistently had international relevance. this article examines the structural and philosophical factors that have enabled the success of the pngimr, and presents the pngimr approach to research as a potential model for other disease-endemic countries. an overview of pngimr research into malaria and ...	2003	12798079
lymphatic filariasis in papua new guinea: interdisciplinary research on a national health problem.	bancroftian filariasis is a major public health problem in papua new guinea, where the level of transmission by the mosquito vector, human infection rates and clinical morbidity are among the highest in the world. coordinated research efforts within the country, involving the disciplines of epidemiology, vector biology, immunology and genetics, have led to new insights into the ecology and pathogenesis of human lymphatic filariasis. recent work using this knowledge base should be helpful in asse ...	2003	12798083
human infection with wuchereria bancrofti in matara, sri lanka: the use, in parallel, of an elisa to detect filaria-specific igg4 in urine and of ict card tests to detect filarial antigen in whole blood.	the ict card test to detect circulating filarial antigen and an elisa that detects filaria-specific urinary igg(4) were each used to screen 473 subjects from a community in sri lanka where wuchereria bancrofti is endemic. when the ict test was used as the gold standard, the elisa was found to have a sensitivity of 91.2%. however, far more of the subjects were found elisa-positive than ict-positive (76.5% v. 31.1%). the youngest children studied (aged 1-10 years) were similar to the adult subject ...	2003	12803873
evidence against wolbachia symbiosis in loa loa.	background: the majority of filarial nematode species are host to wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts, although a few including acanthocheilonema viteae, onchocerca flexuosa and setaria equina have been shown to be free of infection. comparisons of species with and without symbionts can provide important information on the role of wolbachia symbiosis in the biology of the nematode hosts and the contribution of the bacteria to the development of disease. previous studies by electron microscopy and ...	2003	12816546
incidental detection of microfilariae in aspirates from ewing's sarcoma of bone.	microfilariae have been reported as coincidental findings with various neoplasms. we present a case in which microfilariae were encountered in fine-needle aspiration (fna) smears from a 10-yr-old boy who presented with a lytic lesion in the diaphysis of the right tibial bone. stained aspirates from the swelling were composed of a dispersed population of small round cells with scanty to vacuolated cytoplasm. two sheathed microfilariae with several nuclei and cephalic and caudal clearing were iden ...	2003	12827713
the effects of diethylcarbamazine on the ultrastructure of microfilariae of wuchereria bancrofti.	an ultrastructural study of microfilariae of wuchereria bancrofti was performed after in vitro treatment with diethylcarbamazine. one of the first morphological alterations produced by treatment with 5, 10 or 50 microg/ml of dec was the loss of microfilarial sheaths. drastic effects of dec were only detected when microfilariae were exsheathed. microfilariae treated with 5, 10 or 50 microg/ml dec showed severely affected organelles, formation of several vacuoles mainly in the hypodermis, and cyto ...	2003	12866792
field evaluation of the whole blood immunochromatographic test for rapid bancroftian filariasis diagnosis in the northeast of brazil.	this study evaluated the whole blood immunochromatographic card test (ict card test) in a survey performed in northeastern brazil. 625 people were examined by the thick blood film (tbf) and ict card test. residents of a non-endemic area were also tested by the whole blood card test and og4c3. the sensitivity of the ict card test was 94.7% overall, but lower in females than males, based on the reasonable assumption that tbf is 100% specific. however, since tbf and other methods have unknown sensi ...	2003	12870060
prevalence and levels of filaria-specific urinary igg4 among children less than five years of age and the association of antibody positivity between children and their mothers.	an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) to detect filaria-specific urinary igg4 was tested in samples from 203 children less than five years old and their parents (165 mothers and 127 fathers) in sri lanka. there were four igg4-positive children within 58 days after birth, suggesting the transfer of the antibody from mothers. no positive children were found between days 65 and 417. after day 1,000, the number of the positive individuals and the level of igg4 increased quickly. the children ...	2003	12875298
immunocytochemical localization of antigens recognized by human antisera in infective larvae of wuchereria bancrofti.	ultrathin sections of l3 of wuchereria bancrofti embedded in hydrophilic resin were incubated with antisera pools from individuals (1) asymptomatic microfilaremic with different microfilaria (mf) densities (1-100, 101-500, and >1,000 mf/ml); (2) chronic with hydrocele or lymphedema; and (3) with no evidence of microfilaremia or clinical filariasis but residing in an endemic area. the groups of microfilaremic subjects studied presented differences relative to the intensity of labeling, with the d ...	2003	12880249
brugia malayi and wuchereria bancrofti: gene comparison and recombinant expression of pi-class related glutathione s-transferases.	the nucleotide sequences for brugia malayi and wuchereria bancrofti gst have been submitted to embl, genbank, and ddbj nucleotide sequence databases under accession nos. y12788 and ay195867.	2003	12880597
influence of infection with non-filarial helminths on the specificity of serological assays for antifilarial immunoglobulin g4.	serological assays based on the detection of immunoglobulin (ig) g4 antibodies to crude filarial extracts are widely used for epidemiological and diagnostic purposes. we tested 195 samples collected in 1998 from an area of brazil where filariasis is not endemic and 13 (6.7%) had levels of antifilarial igg4 antibodies that were defined as positive. both strongyloides infection and the presence of strongyloides antibody responses were associated with higher antifilarial antibody responses. none of ...	2003	12886811
sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound detection and risk factors for filarial-associated hydroceles.	to better understand risk factors for hydrocele as a consequence of wuchereria bancrofti infection, 342 men more than 15 years of age in an endemic area in papua new guinea were evaluated. thirty-four subjects (9.9%) had hydrocele by physical examination. ultrasound examination detected hydroceles in 57 men (16.7%). compared with ultrasonography, the sensitivity of physical examination was 44.3%, the specificity was 98.2%, and the positive predictive value was 73.5%. hydrocele was independently ...	2003	12887019
rapid assessment for lymphatic filariasis in central nigeria: a comparison of the immunochromatographic card test and hydrocele rates in an area of high endemicity.	the rapid immunochromatographic card test (ict) for wuchereria bancrofti circulating filarial antigen is being used to map areas endemic for lymphatic filariasis. however, the ict is expensive; thus, surveys based on this test must be relatively limited. our study was conducted to determine if village-based hydrocele surveys could be used to supplement the ict surveys in the mapping activities. we compared in 144 nigerian villages the two assessment methods, ict and examination for clinical hydr ...	2003	12887020
pcr and mosquito dissection as tools to monitor filarial infection levels following mass treatment.	background: entomological methods may provide important tools for monitoring the progress of lymphatic filariasis elimination programs. in this study, we compared dissection of the vector, culex quinquefasciatus, with the polymerase chain reaction (pcr) to assess filarial infection levels in mosquitoes in the context of a lymphatic filariasis elimination program in leogane, haiti. methods: mosquitoes were collected using gravid traps located in 4 sentinel communities with wuchereria bancrofti mi ...	2003	12890288
[parasite detection and symptoms of parasitic diseases. 1: blood parasites].	blood parasites are malaria plasmodia, microfilaria species, trypanosomes (the causative agents of african sleeping sickness and south american changas disease) and the causative agents of schistosomiasis of the bladder and the intestine. their geographical distribution, incubation periods, signs and symptoms, microscopic and serological methods are described. in germany around 1,000 tourists contract malaria every year, mostly travellers to africa. over 70% suffer from the life-threatening p. f ...	2003	12731420
an aspartate aminotransferase of wolbachia endobacteria from onchocerca volvulus is recognized by igg1 antibodies from residents of endemic areas.	wolbachia are intracellular alpha-proteobacteria, closely related to rickettsia, that infect various arthropods and filarial parasites. in the present study, the cdna encoding the aspartate aminotransferase (aspat) of wolbachia from the human pathogenic filarial parasite onchocerca volvulus (ov-wolaspat) was identified. at the amino acid level, the identity of the ov-wolaspat was 56% to rickettsia prowazekii aspat and 54% to the aspat of the nitrogen-fixing bacterium sinorhizobium meliloti, but ...	2003	12743802
no evidence of wolbachia endosymbiosis with loa loa and mansonella perstans.	endosymbiotic wolbachia bacteria from different filarial species, including major pathogens of humans such as wuchereria bancrofti, brugia malayi and onchocerca volvulus, seem to play an important role in the development, viability and fertility of these worms. wolbachia trigger inflammatory host responses as well as adverse reactions against standard treatment regimens and are therefore under investigation as novel treatment targets. we investigated whether wolbachia are also endosymbiotic in l ...	2003	12748849
bmspn2, a serpin secreted by the filarial nematode brugia malayi, does not inhibit human neutrophil proteinases but plays a noninhibitory role.	the filarial nematode, brugia malayi, is a causative agent of lymphatic filariasis. bm-spn-2, one of two serpin genes identified in b. malayi, is expressed only in humans where the encoded protein, bmspn2, is secreted by blood-dwelling microfilariae. previous work reported that bmspn2 could inhibit the activities of elastase and cathepsin g from human neutrophils, despite an atypical amino acid sequence. this did not fit with accepted theories as to the sequence requirements of serpins for prote ...	2003	12755628
characterization of antibody responses to wolbachia surface protein in humans with lymphatic filariasis.	symbiotic wolbachia organisms of filarial nematodes have received much attention as possible chemotherapy targets and disease-causing organisms. in order to further investigate the association between anti-wolbachia immune responses and chronic filarial disease in humans, antibody responses to wolbachia surface protein (wsp) were assayed in serum samples collected from 232 individuals living in leogane, haiti, an area where wuchereria bancrofti infection is endemic, and from 67 north americans w ...	2003	12933853
influence of maternal filariasis on childhood infection and immunity to wuchereria bancrofti in kenya.	to determine whether maternal filariasis influences the risk of infection by and immunity to wuchereria bancrofti in children, we performed a cross-sectional study in an area of kenya where filariasis is endemic. residents of 211 households were enrolled; 376 parents and 938 of their offspring between the ages of 2 and 17 years were examined for filarial infection status as determined by blood-borne microfilariae and filarial antigenemia. children of infected mothers had a three- to fourfold inc ...	2003	12933869
bancroftian filariasis in nepal: a survey for circulating antigenemia of wuchereria bancrofti and urinary igg4 antibody in two rural areas of nepal.	serum and urine samples were randomly collected from residents in two rural areas at different altitudes in nepal, and were examined for wuchereria bancrofti antigens and antibodies (igg4) to filarial antigens, respectively. in judigaun, located at 900 m in altitude, 25.2% of 238 serum samples were positive for antigen, and 50.8% of 244 urine samples were positive for antibody. the level of igg4 antibodies was higher among antigen positive individuals than among the antigen negatives. in kotyang ...	2003	12943971
detection of codon for amino acid 200 in isotype 1 beta-tubulin gene of wuchereria bancrofti isolates, implicated in resistance to benzimidazoles in other nematodes.	albendazole, anthelmintic benzimidazole (bz) is being co-administered with an antifilarial drug, diethylcarbamazine (dec), in lymphatic filariasis (lf) elimination programmes. but this drug is known to result in the faster development of drug resistance and hence it is necessary to monitor drug sensitivity among populations of wuchereria bancrofti. in vitro toxicity assays to detect drug sensitivity are not available for this parasite and hence alternative techniques such as pcr assays need to b ...	2003	12943980
dance of live adult filarial worms is a reliable sign of scrotal filarial infection.	to determine the value of the filarial dance sign as a diagnostic sign of scrotal filarial infection and to recognize unsuspected scrotal filariasis by this sign.	2003	12901402
filarial "dance" in breast mass.		2003	14500251
report on active surveillance for adverse events following the use of drug co-administrations in the global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis.		2003	14518107
spatial variation of anopheles-transmitted wuchereria bancrofti and plasmodium falciparum infection densities in papua new guinea.	the spatial variation of wuchereria bancrofti and plasmodium falciparum infection densities was measured in a rural area of papua new guinea where they share anopheline vectors. the spatial correlation of w. bancrofti was found to reduce by half over an estimated distance of 1.7 km, much smaller than the 50 km grid used by the world health organization rapid mapping method. for p. falciparum, negligible spatial correlation was found. after mass treatment with anti-filarial drugs, there was negli ...	2003	14525619
ocular filariasis due to wuchereria bancrofti presenting as panuveitis: a case report.	to report a case of ocular filariasis due to wuchereria bancrofti manifesting as panuveitis.	2003	14533034
ascorbic acid is a requirement for the morphogenesis of the human filarial parasite brugia malayi.	the nematode parasites wuchereria bancrofti, brugia malayi, and b. timori cause a disease in humans known as lymphatic filariasis, which afflicts approximately 120 million people worldwide. the parasites enter the human host from the mosquito either as l3 or as infective larvae and subsequently differentiate through 2 molts. in this article, we show that b. malayi depends on an exogenous source of vitamin c to complete the l3 to l4 molt, a critical morphogenic step in its life cycle. brugia mala ...	2003	14533709
culex pipiens pipiens: characterization of immune peptides and the influence of immune activation on development of wuchereria bancrofti.	stimulating or augmenting the innate immune response of insect vectors has been shown to impede or disrupt the development and transmission of eukaryotic pathogens; however, the majority of such studies have utilized model systems and not natural parasite-vector systems. the culex pipiens complex of mosquitoes functions as a primary urban vector of wuchereria bancrofti, a causative agent of lymphatic filariasis. to test the effects of immune activation on this vector-parasite interaction, culex ...	2003	14550895
polymorphisms of innate immunity genes and susceptibility to lymphatic filariasis.	we examined 906 residents of an area of papua new guinea where bancroftian filariasis is endemic for genetic polymorphisms in three innate immunity genes suspected of contributing to susceptibility to infection and lymphatic pathology. active infection was confirmed by the presence of blood-borne microfilariae and circulating filarial antigen in plasma. disease was ascertained by physical examination for the presence of overt lymphedema (severe swelling of an arm or leg) or hydrocele. there was ...	2003	14551607
prospects for elimination of bancroftian filariasis by mass drug treatment in pondicherry, india: a simulation study.	lymfasim, a microsimulation model for transmission and control of lymphatic filariasis, was used to simulate the effects of mass treatment, in order to estimate the number of treatment rounds necessary to achieve elimination. simulations were performed for a community that represented pondicherry, india, and that had an average precontrol microfilariae (mf) prevalence of 8.5%. when ivermectin was used, 8 yearly treatment rounds with 65% population coverage gave a 99% probability of elimination. ...	2003	14593597
treatment of co-infection with bancroftian filariasis and onchocerciasis: a safety and efficacy study of albendazole with ivermectin compared to treatment of single infection with bancroftian filariasis.	background: in order to use a combination of ivermectin and albendazole for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis, it is important to assess the potential risk of increased adverse events in individuals infected with both lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis. we compared the safety and efficacy of albendazole (400 mg) in combination with ivermectin (150 micrograms/kg), for the treatment of co-infections of wuchereria bancrofti and onchocerca volvulus with single infection of w. bancrofti. m ...	2003	14613509
the prevalences of wuchereria bancrofti antigenaemia in communities given six rounds of treatment with diethylcarbamazine, ivermectin or placebo tablets.	the ict filariasis card test was used to determine the prevalences of wuchereria bancrofti antigenaemia among villagers in india. prior to the tests, those living in the 15 study villages had been treated six times, in six rounds of mass treatment (with 54%-75% coverage) spread over 6 years, with single doses of diethylcarbamazine (five villages), ivermectin (five villages) or placebo (five villages). the corresponding overall prevalences (and ranges) of filarial antigenaemia were 20.2% (13.7%-2 ...	2003	14613632
parasite antigenaemia and igg4 antibodies to a filarial protease in an endemic human population in india.	levels of circulating filarial antigen (og4c3) and igg4 antibodies to a filarial protease were determined in subjects of wuchereria bancrofti exposed sera from orissa, india. in addition to all individuals with antigenaemia (microfilaraemia), igg4 antibodies were also detected in some individuals without antigenaemia. a 2-year longitudinal follow-up indicated that igg4 seropositivity in asymptomatic amicrofilaraemics could be a risk factor for acquiring infection (antigenaemia).	2003	14627443
clinical characteristics of post-treatment reactions to ivermectin/albendazole for wuchereria bancrofti in a region co-endemic for mansonella perstans.	post-treatment reactions to single-dose ivermectin (200 microg/kg) and albendazole (400 mg) were studied in a filarial endemic region of mali. the prevalence of wuchereria bancrofti in this region was 48.3% (69 of 143), and coinfection with mansonella perstans was common (30 of 40, 75%). microfilarial levels of m. perstans correlated positively with age (p = 0.006) and with w. bancrofti microfilarial levels (p = 0.006). forty individuals (28 infected and 12 uninfected) were treated, with mild po ...	2003	14628953
the impact of six rounds of single-dose mass administration of diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin on the transmission of wuchereria bancrofti by culex quinquefasciatus and its implications for lymphatic filariasis elimination programmes.	lymphatic filariasis (lf) is targeted for global elimination. transmission interruption through repeated annual single-dose mass administration of anti-filarial drugs is the mainstay of the lf elimination strategy. this study examined the ability of six rounds of mass administration of diethylcarbamazine (dec) or ivermectin (ivm) to interrupt transmission of wuchereria bancrofti by culex quinquefasciatus, the predominant parasite and vector species, respectively. after six rounds of mass drug ad ...	2003	14641843
[the occurrence and distribution of lymphatic filariasis in greater metropolitan recife: the case of an endemic area in jaboatão dos guararapes, pernambuco, brazil].	this article analyzes the results of an epidemiological survey on the occurrence and distribution of lymphatic filariasis in cavaleiro, a district in the city of jaboatão dos guararapes in greater metropolitan recife, pernambuco state, brazil. the district was divided into 12 areas, and a cross-sectional technique was used to examine 9,520 individuals, of whom 2.2% were found to be infected. there were positive cases in 11 of the areas. the prevalence rate ranged from 0% to 5.15%. the majority ( ...	2003	14666231
diethylcarbamazine induces loss of microfilarial sheath of wuchereria bancrofti.	light microscopy analyses of microfilariae of wuchereria bancrofti treated with dec revealed a striking loss of the microfilarial sheath. however, no effect was observed on microfilariae of litomosoides chagasfilhoi treated with dec. for quantitative analyses microfilariae of w. bancrofti were processed for sem. controls, which have not received dec, had 29.8% of exsheathed microfilariae. conversely, the number of exsheathed microfilariae increased as increased dec concentrations: 5 microg/ml (7 ...	2003	14680924
a hypodermally expressed prolyl 4-hydroxylase from the filarial nematode brugia malayi is soluble and active in the absence of protein disulfide isomerase.	the collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylase (p4h) class of enzymes catalyze the hydroxylation of prolines in the x-pro-gly repeats of collagen chains. this modification is central to the synthesis of all collagens. most p4hs are alpha(2)beta(2) tetramers with the catalytic activity residing in the alpha subunits. the beta subunits are identical to the enzyme protein disulfide isomerase. the nematode cuticle is a collagenous extracellular matrix required for maintenance of the worm body shape. examination ...	2003	12417582
analysis of wuchereria bancrofti infections in a village community in northern nigeria: increased prevalence in individuals infected with onchocerca volvulus.	infections with wuchereria bancrofti causing lymphatic filariasis still represent one of the major health problems in the tropics, with 120 million people infected and over 750 million exposed to this filarial parasite. we have studied lymphatic filariasis infections as part of a multi-parasite survey in a village community in the savannah of northern nigeria. we analysed serum samples from 341 individuals aged 5-70 years, detecting a w. bancrofti circulating antigen using the commercially avail ...	2003	12543143
evaluation of crude antigen of dirofilaria immitis third-stage larva for detection of antibody against wuchereria bancrofti infection by indirect elisa.	dirofilaria immitis is an important heart worm in dogs. an immunodiagnostic test is frequently applied to use an alternative antigen from other parasites. a crude antigen from infective third stage larva (l3) of d. immitis was employed in detecting the antibody to bancroftian filariasis in humans by indirect elisa. it was shown that 25 cases of bancroftian filariasis (76%) at a cut-off value of 0.230, were positive. cross-reactivity was tested using available sera of other helminthic infections. ...	2003	19230575
microscopic haematuria as an occult filarial infection in bhubaneshwar an endemic area for bancroftian filariasis.	sera samples of 7 microscopic haematuria cases collected before and after treatment with diethylcarbamazine citrate, (dec), 9 microfilaraemic cases and 19 endemic normal individuals were analysed for filarial antigen and igg antibody levels. filarial antigen was detected in 5 of the 7 microscopic haematuria cases, of which 3 turned negative for antigen after treatment with dec. while none of the 7 haematuria cases were positive for filarial igg antibodies, before the dec treatment, all of them t ...	2003	23105372
the pathogenesis of filarial lymphedema: is it the worm or is it the host?	our understanding of the pathogenesis of filarial lymphedema, although evolving, is still limited. recurrent bacterial infections play a major role in the progression of lymphedema to elephantiasis, but the host and parasite factors that trigger disease development are not known. field studies in haiti show that lymphedema and host responses to parasite antigens cluster in families, consistent with the hypothesis that host genes influence lymphedema susceptibility. the recent recognition that fi ...	2002	12543723
mass treatment to eliminate filariasis in papua new guinea.	the global initiative to eradicate bancroftian filariasis currently relies on mass treatment with four to six annual doses of antifilarial drugs. the goal is to reduce the reservoir of microfilariae in the blood to a level that is insufficient to maintain transmission by the mosquito vector.	2002	12466508
reading ict filariasis rapid diagnostic card tests under field conditions and issues of good clinical practice in clinical trials.		2002	12474495
filariasis in a tourist diagnosed by fine needle aspiration cytology.		2002	12485178
lymphatic filariasis-specific immune responses in relation to lymphoedema grade and infection status. i. cellular responses.	the filariasis-specific cellular responsiveness was assessed in 109 adult individuals from a wuchereria bancrofti-endemic area in north-east tanzania. there were 9 study groups. five groups of individuals were negative for microfilariae (mf) and specific circulating filarial antigen (cfa) and had leg lymphoedema of varying severity ranging from early to more advanced grades (pathology groups 1-5). another group comprised individuals with mixed grades of lymphoedema and positive for mf and/or cfa ...	2002	12497986
lymphatic filariasis-specific immune responses in relation to lymphoedema grade and infection status. ii. humoral responses.	the filarial-specific humoral responses (igg1, igg2, igg3, igg4 and ige) to a brugia pahangi antigen was assessed in 9 groups of adult individuals from a wuchereria bancrofti-endemic area in north-east tanzania. in 5 of the groups, individuals were negative for microfilariae (mf) and circulating filarial antigen (cfa) and had leg lymphoedema of varying severity ranging from early to more advanced grades. a 6th group had mixed grades of lymphoedema and were actively infected with mf and/or cfa. t ...	2002	12497987
transmission dynamics of lymphatic filariasis: density-dependence in the uptake of wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae by vector mosquitoes.	gaining a better understanding of parasite infection dynamics in the vector mosquito (diptera: culicidae) population is central to improving knowledge regarding the transmission, persistence and hence control of lymphatic filariasis. here, we use data on mosquito feeding experiments collated from the published literature to examine the available evidence regarding the functional form of the first component of this parasite-vector relationship for wuchereria bancrofti (filarioidea: onchocercidae) ...	2002	12510894
bancroftian filariasis: clinical parasitologic and serologic evaluation after 4 years applying two antifilarial regimens.	in august 1 997, 124 individuals out ot 1,110 were selected as being seropositive for circulating filarial antigen og4c3 (cfa). ten healthy children proven negative for cfa were used as controls. the patients were classified into: g1 28 patients; 20 asymptomatic microfilaraemic and 8 symptomatic amicrofilaraemic (amf), g2 80 patients, 22 asymptomatic mf, 48 asymptomatic amf and 10 symptomatic amf and g3 16 asymptomatic amf. g1 was treated by single annual dose of diethyl carbamazine (dec) (6mg/k ...	2002	12512817
tolerability and efficacy of single dose albendazole, diethylcarbamazine citrate (dec) or co-administration of albendazole with dec in the clearance of wuchereria bancrofti in asymptomatic microfilaraemic volunteers in pondicherry, south india: a hospital-based study.	background: the tolerability and efficacy of single dose albendazole (400 mg), diethylcarbamazine citrate (dec) (6 mg/kg bodyweight) or co-administration of albendazole (400 mg) + dec (6 mg/kg bodyweight) was studied in 54 asymptomatic wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemic volunteers in a double blind hospital-based clinical study. results: there was no significant difference in the overall incidence of adverse reactions between the three drug groups [42.1% (albendazole), 52.9% (dec) and 61.1% (a ...	2002	12537598
the use of spatial analysis in mapping the distribution of bancroftian filariasis in four west african countries.	the geographical distribution of human infection with wuchereria bancrofti was investigated in four west african countries (benin, burkina faso, ghana and togo), using a commercial immunochromatographic test for filarial antigen. efforts were made to cover each health-system implementation unit and to ensure no sampling point was >50 km from another, but otherwise the 401 study communities were selected at random. the aim was to enable spatial analysis of the data, to provide a prediction of the ...	2002	12537631
an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (elisa) format to diagnose wuchereria bancrofti specific immunoglobulin g4 class in urine samples.		2002	12452485
impact of untreated bednets on prevalence of wuchereria bancrofti transmitted by anopheles farauti in papua new guinea.	despite the growing evidence that insecticide-treated mosquito nets reduce malaria morbidity and mortality in a variety of epidemiological conditions, their value against lymphatic filariasis infection and disease is yet to be established. the impact of untreated bednets on the prevalence of wuchereria bancrofti (cobbold) (nematoda: filarioidea) infection and disease was investigated on bagabag island in papua new guinea, where both malaria and filariasis are transmitted by the same vector mosqu ...	2002	11963977
treatment of brugia timori and wuchereria bancrofti infections in indonesia using dec or a combination of dec and albendazole: adverse reactions and short-term effects on microfilariae.	filariasis caused by brugia timori and wuchereria bancrofti is an important public health problem on alor island, east nusa tenggara, indonesia. to implement a control programme, adverse reactions and short-term effects on the microfilaria (mf) density were studied following a divided dose of diethylcarbamazine (dec, 6 mg/kg body weight - 100 mg on day 1 and the rest on day 3) or a single dose of dec (6 mg/kg body weight on day 3) and albendazole (alb, 400 mg). in order to define the most approp ...	2002	12358626
an immature filarial worm, probably wuchereria bancrofti, from the anterior chamber of the eye in a patient from sri lanka.		2002	12375373
the impact of single-dose diethylcarbamazine treatment of bancroftian filariasis in a low-endemicity setting in egypt.	this study was designed to evaluate the effect of a single dose of diethylcarbamazine (dec, 6 mg/kg) on wuchereria bancrofti infections in a low-endemicity setting in egypt (microfilaremia, or mf, 3.7%, median mf 34/ml). subjects with mf or filarial antigenemia were treated and restudied 1 year later. treatment with dec dramatically reduced blood mf counts, with clearance in 69% of subjects. treatment also reduced filarial antigen levels, but low clearance rates suggest that some adult worms sur ...	2002	12389947
prevalence of diurnally subperiodic bancroftian filariasis among the nicobarese in andaman and nicobar islands, india: effect of age and gender.	we conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the prevalence of disease and microfilaraemia caused by diurnally subperiodic strain of wuchereria bancrofti transmitted by day biting aedes niveus in teressa island, remotely located in the nicobar district of andaman and nicobar islands. lymphatic filariasis is a considerable public health problem on this island with an overall endemicity rate of 16.2%. there was a gradual increase in microfilaraemia prevalence with age, reaching a plateau above ...	2002	12390601
the histopathology of bancroftian filariasis revisited: the role of the adult worm in the lymphatic-vessel disease.	although morphology is generally limited to static images, the histopathological features of bancroftian lymphatic disease are presented here in a way that is as dynamic as possible and closely associated with the clinical, ultrasonographic and surgical characteristics. the protean spectrum of alterations seen in the host's lymphatic vessels is discussed, and the changes caused by the live and dead worms are highlighted, as independent events. evidence of a remodelling process, in which the lymp ...	2002	12396316
the influence of the mass administration of diethylcarbamazine, alone or with albendazole, on the prevalence of filarial antigenaemia.	the current indian campaign for the elimination of lymphatic filariasis is largely based on mass drug administration (mda). as part of this campaign, villagers in the tirukoilur and mugaiyur 'blocks' (i.e. revenue units) of villupuram district, in tamil nadu, india, were treated with diethylcarbamazine (dec), either alone (mugaiyur) or with albendazole (tirukoilur), in march 2001. the efficacy of treatment, in each of the two treatment arms, was evaluated by determining the percentages of the su ...	2002	12396322
microfilaria in a thyroid nodule which resolved on treatment.		2002	12405321
the pacelf programme: will mass drug administration be enough?	the pacific programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis is a regional, mass drug administration-based campaign in 22 countries and territories with the aim of eliminating filariasis transmission and alleviating the suffering caused by wuchereria bancrofti. the challenges to filariasis elimination campaigns based on mass drug-administration alone are reviewed in this article. these challenges together with the previous successes of mosquito control campaigns in eliminating filariasis from regions ...	2002	11854087
bancroftian filariasis: a 13-year follow-up study of asymptomatic microfilariae carriers and endemic normals in orissa, india.	the natural history of human filarial infections leading to development of disease has been a subject of intense debate. the models proposed so far have largely been based on cross-sectional data on microfilariae (mf) and disease prevalence in filariasis endemic areas. in an attempt to study the parasitological and clinical consequences of filarial infection in beldal (orissa, india), an area endemic for bancroftian filariasis, cohorts of 59 asymptomatic mf carriers (as) and 187 asymptomatic and ...	2002	11862995
pharmacokinetics of diethylcarbamazine after single oral dose at two different times of day in human subjects.	in most wuchereria bancrofti and brugia malayi infections, the microfilaria are found in the blood in greatest number between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., indicating that chronotherapy may be beneficial in treating such infections. this study reports the influence of time of administration on the pharmacokinetics of diethylcarbamazine (dec) in healthy volunteers. the study was conducted in 12 healthy volunteers by administering a 150 mg single oral dose of diethylcarbamazine citrate at 0600 or 1800 h in ...	2002	11865970
[recommendations for the treatment of bancroftian filariasis in symptomless and diseased patients].	the goals of treatment for lymphatic filariasis are: to prevent, reverse, or halt progression of disease; and to interrupt transmission of the parasite. selecting the appropriate therapy for the patient with lymphatic filariasis requires knowledge of the various clinical features of filarial disease and their pathogenesis. in the past, treatment of lymphatic filariasis has focused primarily on antiparasitic chemotherapy; however, for many of the acute and chronic manifestations of lymphatic fila ...	2002	11873261
antigenemia at 10 years after diethylcarbamazine treatment of asymptomatic microfilaraemic individuals: marginal conversion to infection-free state.	a group of asymptomatic microfilaraemic individuals (n = 44, 29 males, 15 females) living in a wuchereria bancrofti endemic region of orissa, india, was treated with a standard regimen of diethylcarbamazine (12 days, 6 mg/kg) in 1990. the incidence of microfilaraemia and antigenemia (og4c3) was determined after a gap of 10 years in 2000. nineteen individuals reacquired microfilariae (43.2%, 11 males, eight females), five males developed hydrocele, two females became acute filarial patients and 1 ...	2002	11874566
microfilariae of wuchereria bancrofti in cyst fluid of tumors of the brain: a report of three cases.	microfilariae of various nematodes, including loa loa, dirofilariae, and onchocerca volvulus, have been identified in the central nervous system (cns). the cns, however, is a rare site for the isolation of microfilariae of wuchereria bancrofti. to the best of our knowledge, the presence of microfilariae of w. bancrofti in tumor cyst fluids or cerebrospinal fluid has not been reported to date. we report three cases in which microfilariae were identified in the cyst fluid of tumors of the brain. c ...	2002	11892020
microfilaria in thyroid aspirate.		2002	11892028
genetic variability of the human filarial parasite, wuchereria bancrofti in south india.	the genetic variability of the lymphatic filarial parasite wuchereria bancrofti, from three localities (one urban and two rural areas) in southern india, endemic for filariasis was studied using random amplified polymorphic dna (rapd) markers. the rapd profiles were generated for 21 parasite populations (7 populations from each area), using a 10-mer random primer. the analysis of profiles indicated the existence of considerable genetic variability among parasite populations. the nei's gene diver ...	2002	11904105
prevalence and intensity of wuchereria bancrofti antigenaemia in sri lanka by og4c3 elisa using filter paper-absorbed whole blood.	in sri lanka 2741 people from matara, an endemic area for wuchereria bancrofti, were examined in 1996/97 for microfilariae by 60-microl blood smear and for circulating filarial antigens by og4c3 elisa using filter paper-absorbed whole blood. the overall prevalence of microfilaraemia was 3.4%, and that of antigenaemia 14.4%. the prevalence of antigen-positive and microfilaria-negative people was 11.3%. analysed by age-group, antigenaemia prevalence was similar in all groups, and the average numbe ...	2002	11925989
evaluation of the ict whole-blood antigen card test to detect infection due to wuchereria bancrofti in sri lanka.	the sensitivity, specificity and cost effectiveness of an immunochromatographic card test (ict, amrad) for the diagnosis of bancroftian filariasis were estimated against 2 standard parasitological techniques: thick blood film (tbf) and nuclepore membrane filtration (nmf). individuals were selected from endemic localities in the western province (n = 213) and from the non-endemic central province (n = 29) of sri lanka. blood was collected between 21:00 and midnight. sixty microlitre of non-hepari ...	2002	11925995
[ivermectin, a broad spectrum antiparasitic drug].	activity: ivermectine, derived from beta avermectines, monocyclic lactones produced by streptomyces avermitilis, is a potent oral microfilaricide used by veterinaries since 1981. the anti-filarial activity is two-fold: both microfilaricide and embryotoxic in female adults; it has no activity on the latter. indications: ivermectine is the treatment of choice in onchocercosis, induced by the nematode onchocerca volvulus, and was included in the onchocercosis control program (programme de contrôle ...	2002	11984984
molecular characterization of a calcium binding translationally controlled tumor protein homologue from the filarial parasites brugia malayi and wuchereria bancrofti.	we have cloned homologues of the mammalian translationally controlled tumor protein (tctp) from the human filarial parasites wuchereria bancrofti and brugia malayi. tctp genes from b. malayi and w. bancrofti were expressed in a t7 promoter vector as histidine tagged fusion proteins. both the recombinant b. malayi tctp (rbm-tctp) and recombinant w. bancrofti tctp (rwb-tctp) have a molecular mass of approximately 28 kda with the histidine tag. sequence analyses showed that there is a 98% similarit ...	2002	11985867
a new insight into the pathogenesis of filarial disease.	filariasis is a major public health problem throughout many regions of the tropics. the disease is caused by several species of filarial nematode including wuchereria bancrofti and brugia malayi, the agents of lymphatic filariasis, and onchocerca volvulus, the cause of 'riverblindness'. disease caused by these worms varies depending on the tissue location of the parasite, and is associated with episodes of acute and chronic inflammation. these pathologies, including elephantiasis and blindness, ...	2002	12041732
lymphatic filariasis in lower shire, southern malawi.	surveys for lymphatic filariasis were carried out for the first time in lower shire (nsanje and chikawawa districts) of southern malawi, in april-june 2000. there were 3 phases. in phase i, questionnaire surveys in 48 randomly selected villages indicated that chronic manifestations of lymphatic filariasis ('swollen scrotum' and 'swollen legs') were common and widespread in the area. in phase ii, volunteers from 10 of the villages reporting frequent manifestations of filariasis in phase i were ex ...	2002	12055799
serum ferritin, alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and retinol levels in lymphatic filariasis.	based on a cross-sectional study conducted among 100 adults in 1993 in tanga, tanzania, the relationship between wuchereria bancrofti infection and markers of iron, vitamin a and vitamin e status was assessed. potential predictors assessed were elephantiasis, hydrocoele, w. bancrofti microfilaria intensity and antigen concentration, and intensity of schistosoma haematobium, hookworm, trichuris trichiura and ascaris lumbricoides infection, while controlling for age, sex and elevated serum alpha-1 ...	2002	12055804
progression of lymphatic vessel dilatation in the presence of living adult wuchereria bancrofti.	bancroftian filariasis, a mosquito-transmitted disease commonly known as elephantiasis, is caused by infection with the parasite wuchereria bancrofti. infection with this parasite can induce a broad array of chronic debilitating and socially stigmatizing conditions, but the pathogenesis of this morbidity remains obscure. recent evidence indicates that in filariasis-endemic areas the primary lesion is not lymphatic vessel obstruction but, rather, dilatation. to determine the extent to which lymph ...	2002	12055805
ivermectin and albendazole alone and in combination for the treatment of lymphatic filariasis in ghana: follow-up after re-treatment with the combination.	the efficacy of re-treatment with the combination of ivermectin (150-200 micrograms/kg bodyweight) and albendazole (400 mg) on wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia was assessed in 1997-99 in 4 groups of individuals from coastal ghana, which 1 year previously had received a primary treatment with placebo (n = 38), albendazole (n = 39), ivermectin (n = 34) or combination of albendazole and ivermectin (n = 42), respectively. one year after the re-treatment, an overall mean reduction in microfilaria ...	2002	12055812
recent advances in molecular diagnostic techniques for human lymphatic filariasis and their use in epidemiological research.	diagnosis of lymphatic filariasis for epidemiological studies is an area of science that has been greatly modernized over the last two decades. recent developments and the introduction of new technologies have led to the replacement of traditional diagnostic methods that were insensitive, tedious and often impractical with molecular biology techniques that have considerable potential for field use. this paper reviews some of these major new techniques and the applications of molecular diagnosis ...	2002	12055843
age-grading and growth of wuchereria bancrofti (filariidea: onchocercidae) larvae by growth measurements and its use for estimating blood-meal intervals of its polynesian vector aedes polynesiensis (diptera: culicidae).	growth in length and width of wuchereria bancrofti (filariidea: onchocercidae) larvae developing in its polynesian vector aedes polynesiensis (diptera: culicidae) was analysed using a mathematical approach to objectively extract patterns. l1 had a u-shaped growth in length, while widths followed an s-shaped function. l2 had an s-shaped growth in length and width. growth in length of l3 was also s-shaped, while widths had an asymptotic size following a period of rapid shrinkage. the greatest diff ...	2002	12062489
lymphatic filariasis: new insights into an old disease.	lymphatic filariasis has afflicted people in the tropical areas of the world for thousands of years but even up to comparatively recent times it has been poorly understood and its importance under recognised. in the last 2 decades or so there has been a flurry of activity in filariasis research, which has provided new insights into the global problem of filariasis, the pathogenesis of filarial disease, diagnosis and control.	2002	12076624
lymphatic filariasis in the karonga district of northern malawi: a prevalence survey.	in malawi, two main foci of lymphatic filariasis (lf) are known to exist: one in the south, in the shire valley, and the other in the north, along the songwe river, on the border with tanzania. there have been no formal surveys in the songwe area since the 1960s but an opportunity arose in 2000-2001 to map lf in this area, in the context of a leprosy survey that formed part of the follow-up of a large leprosy and tuberculosis vaccine trial. overall 687 immunochromatographic (ict) tests were carr ...	2002	12080974
antibiotics for the treatment of onchocerciasis and other filarial infections.	more effective drugs are needed for the treatment of human filarial diseases and the elimination of these infections as a public health problem. the drugs must either kill or sterilize adult worms. the relevant filariae, onchocerca volvulus, wuchereria bancofti and brugia species, harbor rickettsial endoboacteria of the genus wolbachia as symbionts. animal experiments have shown that the elimination of these endobacteria causes inhibition of embryogenesis, and with onchocerca ochengi a macrofila ...	2002	12090719
immunocytochemical localization of antigens recognised by tropical pulmonary eosinophilia and individuals with intestinal helminths antisera in microfilaria of wuchereria bancrofti.	ultrathin sections of microfilaria of w. bancrofti embedded in the hydrophilic resin l.r. white were incubated with sera from patients with a typical picture of filarial tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (tpe) and sera from patients of a non-endemic region for filariasis regarding intestinal helminths. both groups had a similar pattern of labelling, except that the labelling intensity was higher with the sera of patients with filarial tpe. the present study indicates relevant epitopes recognised b ...	2002	12117283
relationship between male hydrocele and infection prevalences in clustered communities with uncertain transmission of wuchereria bancrofti on the thailand-myanmar border.	a cross-sectional community-based study was conducted in three clustered communities, belonging to a single small village in mae chan subdistrict, umphang district, tak province, close to the thailand-myanmar border, where regular night blood survey have been discontinued since 1997 and no epidemiological study had been conducted. in order to understand prevalences of distribution of male hydrocele and infection in clinically diagnostic and epidemiologic implications in uncertain transmission of ...	2002	12118464
development of antigen detection elisa for the diagnosis of brugian and bancroftian filariasis using antibodies to recombinant filarial antigens bm-sxp-1 and wb-sxp-1.	antibodies specific to recombinant filarial antigens wb-sxp-1 and bm-sxp-1 have been used to develop a sandwich elisa for the detection of circulating filarial antigen (cfa) in sera from patients with lymphatic filariasis caused by wuchereria bancrofti of brugia malayi. in patients with w. bancrofti infections, a high proportion of microfilaria (mf) positive (mf) and low proportions of patients with chronic pathology (cp) and endemic normals (en) showed the presence of cfa. similarly in patients ...	2002	12139392
young male with pancytopenia: an unusual cause.		2002	12151578
bancroftian filariasis infection, disease, and specific antibody response patterns in a high and a low endemicity community in east africa.	bancroftian filariasis infection, disease and specific antibody response patterns in a high and a low endemicity community in east africa were analyzed and compared to assess the relationship between these parameters and community transmission intensity. overall prevalences of microfilaremia and circulating filarial antigenemia were 24.9% and 52.2% in the high and 2.7% and 16.5% in the low endemicity community, respectively. a positive history of acute attacks of adenolymphangitis was given by 1 ...	2002	12201589
the effect of six rounds of single dose mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin on wuchereria bancrofti infection and its implications for lymphatic filariasis elimination.	annual mass treatment with single-dose diethylcarbamazine (dec) or ivermectin (ivm) in combination with albendazole (alb) for 4-6 years is the principal tool of lymphatic filariasis (lf) elimination strategy. this placebo-controlled study examined the potential of six rounds of mass treatment with dec or ivm to eliminate wuchereria bancrofti infection in humans in rural areas in south india. a percentage of 54-75 of the eligible population (> or =15 kg body weight) received treatment during diff ...	2002	12225508
can insecticide resistance status affect parasite transmission in mosquitoes?		2002	12225925
case 43: filariasis.		2002	11818622
microfilariae in lymph node aspirates.		2002	11843567
resurgence in filarial transmission after withdrawal of mass drug administration and the relationship between antigenaemia and microfilaraemia--a longitudinal study.	seven village units endemic for filariasis were assigned randomly into three arms with different intervention strategies in the years 1995 and 1996. villages in group a received two annual mass drug administrations (mdas) of diethylcarbamazine (dec) plus ivermectin (ivr). group b received the same mdas in combination with vector control; in group c only placebo was administered. post-treatment evaluation in 1997 revealed marked reductions in microfilaraemia prevalences (mfp) and geometric mean i ...	2002	11851956