A study in Tanzania found that eliminating worm infections, such as Wuchereria bancrofti, can reduce the risk of contracting HIV. The research, conducted between 2007 and 2019, showed a significant decrease in HIV incidence among people cured of the worm infection, compared to those who remained infected or never had the infection.
Researchers developed an infrared thermal imaging camera to assess filarial lymphoedema status. The tool helps monitor disease progression and detect sub-clinical cases, improving diagnosis and care for those affected by this devastating tropical disease.
Researchers identified a potential new therapy for lymphatic filariasis, a disabling parasitic disease, using innovative RNA sequencing techniques. The experimental cancer drug JQ1 effectively kills adult worms in laboratory settings and may be more effective than standard treatments.
Researchers found that levels of filarial antigens increase after treatment in individuals with adverse events, suggesting a host response to dying parasites. Gene expression analysis also identified elevated levels of immune molecules and 744 genes involved in immune signaling in those with adverse events.
Researchers have developed a novel fully synthetic and rationally designed anti-Wolbachia drug, AWZ1066S, which could potentially treat onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. The compound has shown high specificity and potency against Wolbachia, with the potential to shorten treatment times from weeks to days.
A CWRU-led study shows a single dose of the new triple-drug therapy is significantly more effective at killing microscopic larval worms in people diagnosed with lymphatic filariasis. This finding has led to changes in WHO treatment guidelines, offering promise for eliminating this disease from global health threats.
Researchers analyzed mosquito screening as a tool to gauge parasite presence in lymphatic filariasis. No W. bancrofti DNA was detected in mosquitos collected from endemic and non-endemic areas of Bangladesh.
Lymphatic filariasis treatment programs in urban areas face difficulties due to the high cost and challenges of mass drug administration. The study suggests re-examining the effectiveness of MDA in densely populated towns and cities.
A portable 3D scanner has been developed to measure swollen limbs in patients with elephantiasis, a parasitic disease causing major swelling and deformity of the legs. The device provides highly accurate results in just a fraction of the time required by traditional methods, making it easier to assess treatment effectiveness.
Mass drug administration campaigns in Cameroon have successfully reduced lymphatic filariasis rates, with only 0.13%, 0.57%, and 0.45% of children infected in three evaluation units. The WHO's elimination strategy is on track, but post-mass drug administration surveillance is necessary to ensure disease transmission does not resume.
Research reveals that adults with lymphatic filariasis in Nigeria are four times more likely to experience depression than other adults in the country. The study found that patients with low self-esteem and unemployment were more prone to depression, highlighting the need for holistic management of the condition.
Scientists have developed a shorter treatment regimen using rifampicin to target Wolbachia, reducing treatment times for lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis (Oncho) to just 1-2 weeks. This regimen is safe for pregnant women and children, offering a more effective and accessible solution to these debilitating diseases.
A recent study conducted in Tanzania found that an infection with the filarial nematode Wuchereria bancrofti increases the risk of HIV infection by two to three fold. The study revealed a significant association between filarial infections and increased risk of HIV infection, particularly among adolescents and young adults.
A Tanzanian study has found that people infected with the parasitic worm W bancrofti in areas where HIV is endemic are more likely to acquire HIV. The study, published in The Lancet, suggests that controlling lymphatic filariasis could prevent incident HIV infections among the 120 million people living with this chronic infection.
A study applied WHO's NTD-DQA tool to Ghana's lymphatic filariasis program, finding over 60% of reported data had low accuracy. The researchers suggest ways to improve data quality and highlight the need for a comprehensive assessment to establish appropriate responses.
The COUNTDOWN research consortium aims to improve drug distribution and integration into broader health system responses for NTDs. It will trial and evaluate new approaches targeting those overlooked and excluded.
Low-cost intervention holds potential to eradicate debilitating tropical disease. Insecticide-treated bed nets reduce transmission of lymphatic filariasis to undetectable levels in the absence of additional medication.
A new diagnostic test for lymphatic filariasis is highly sensitive, detecting nearly 26% more infections than the standard test. The new test also has a longer shelf life and is expected to cost less.
Researchers have developed a new rapid diagnostic test for worm infections that provides substantial improvement over the current standard. The test is expected to be more sensitive and easier to use than existing methods, and will help guide public health efforts to eliminate lymphatic filariasis. Lymphatic filariasis affects approxim...
A team of NIH scientists has identified the most proteins produced by Brugia malayi, a parasitic worm that causes lymphatic filariasis. The findings may lead to the development of new vaccines and treatments for the disease, which can cause severely disabling swelling in the lower limbs.
A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that community-based education increased treatment compliance from 50% to 90% in Orissa State, India. The intervention combined timely educational programs with lymphedema management, reversing the trend and increasing drug compliance.
Current policies for NTD mapping, monitoring, and surveillance need improvement; efficient methods are necessary to plan implementation and track progress. Successful strategies include rapid epidemiological mapping and combined surveys.
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has received £10m to support programmes reducing LF prevalence and eliminating the disease. Over a billion people are at risk, with 40 million already infected.
A new integrated survey protocol identified areas requiring mass treatment for schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections in Southern Sudan. Lymphatic filariasis and loiasis were found to be extremely rare, with only four individuals testing positive or reporting symptoms.
Infecting mosquitoes with Wolbachia parasite wMelPop reduces transmission of lymphatic filariasis by up to 85% and boosts mosquito immune system. Researchers aim to introduce this strain into other mosquito species to combat diseases such as malaria.
A new study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases highlights the debilitating effects of filarial hydrocele on marriage and sex. Hydrocele, a chronic manifestation of filariasis, causes swelling in the scrotum, leading to pain during intercourse and emotional distress.
The study found that the LYF elimination programme has prevented 6.6 million children from acquiring LF and stopped another 9.5 million people already infected from progressing to more debilitating stages. The programme's success is attributed to its rapid scale-up, delivering what experts call a 'best buy' in public health.
According to a new analysis, NTDs as a group may have surpassed HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria as the most prevalent infectious diseases in Latin America and the Caribbean. The region is home to approximately 200 million people affected by NTDs, including intestinal worm infections and Chagas disease.
A new study in Zanzibar has shown the safety of delivering three antiparasitic drugs simultaneously to tackle three diseases. The co-administration of ivermectin, albendazole, and praziquantel was found to be safe and effective in reducing distribution costs and increasing community participation.
A major international study found mass drug treatment for lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) to be relatively inexpensive, costing $0.06 to $2.23 per person treated. The disease affects over 1.3 billion people worldwide and can be eradicated through once-yearly mass drug administration of two drugs.
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine has received a $23 million grant to develop new combinations of potential filariasis drugs using state-of-the-art technologies. The programme aims to target bacteria inside the worms, without which they cannot survive, offering a new method to control and treat diseases affecting over 150 milli...
A new study published in PLOS Pathogens suggests that doxycycline can reduce the pathology of lymphatic filariasis by targeting Wolbachia bancrofti. The treatment shows promise as an ameliorating option for individuals with adult worms, potentially providing relief from debilitating swelling and genital areas.
After five years of mass treatments, rates of filarial infection have sharply declined in Egypt. The Egyptian campaign to eliminate these infections has achieved its goals in most areas, with the parasite's transmission efficiency being low enough for remaining infections to die out on their own.
Mass drug administration has led to sharp falls in infection rates and transmission in both study areas. The Egyptian national programme is likely to be successful if sentinel villages are representative of communities included in the programme.
A recent study found that an 8-week course of doxycycline effectively eliminated adult Wuchereria bancrofti worms, a key cause of elephantiasis. The treatment also reduced larval offspring populations, suggesting a promising approach for mass treatment.
Researchers from Case Western Reserve University found a dramatic reduction in mosquito transmission, new infections, and severe disease manifestations with four annual mass treatments. The study provides essential guidelines for controlling the infectious disease and points to the ultimate eradication of filariasis on a global level.
Lymphatic filariasis is a leading cause of permanent and long-term disability, resulting in physical suffering and psychosocial problems. Continued research is essential to measuring LF elimination efforts and making adjustments as the program moves into new challenges.