MyMedR

Heterogeneous response of Wuchereria bancrofti-infected persons to diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and its implications for the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF)

Sankari T, Subramanian S, Hoti SL, Pani SP, Jambulingam P, Das PK

Parasitol Res, 2021 Jan;120(1):311-319.

PMID: 33146778 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06950-7

DEC or ivermectin (IVM) in combination with albendazole (ALB) has been the recommended strategy of the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (GPELF) since 2000. Despite effective population coverage (> 65%) with several rounds of MDA with DEC or combination of DEC plus ALB, microfilariae persist in few individuals and they continue to be the source of infection for transmitting LF. We report an individual's variability in response to DEC by defining the response as complete absence of microfilaria (mf) (post-treatment mf count = 0) and non-response as presence of mf (post-treatment mf count ≥ 1). We analyzed follow-up data on individual's response to treatment from two randomized clinical trials in which 46 microfilaremic individuals were treated with single-dose DEC (6 mg/kg body weight). They were classified into low, medium, and high mf density categories based on their pre-treatment mf counts. Of the 46 individuals, 65.2% have not responded throughout the 12-month post-treatment period. Application of a logistic regression model with fixed (age, gender, mf density, post-treatment time, and their interactions) and random (individual's response over time) effects indicated that treatment response is independent of age, gender, and time. The overall treatment response increases in low and decreases in high mf density categories. Furthermore, the estimates for the random coefficients model showed that there is a greater variability in response between individuals over post-treatment time. The results substantiate that individual variation in response to DEC exists which indicate the importance of studying the parasite as well as host genetic factors associated with DEC action.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Fulltext Anti-Wolbachia therapy for onchocerciasis & lymphatic filariasis: Current perspectives

Wan Sulaiman WA, Kamtchum-Tatuene J, Mohamed MH, Ramachandran V, Ching SM, Sazlly Lim SM, et al.

Indian J Med Res, 2019 06;149(6):706-714.

PMID: 31496523 DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.IJMR_454_17

Onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF) are human filarial diseases belonging to the group of neglected tropical diseases, leading to permanent and long-term disability in infected individuals in the endemic countries such as Africa and India. Microfilaricidal drugs such as ivermectin and albendazole have been used as the standard therapy in filariasis, although their efficacy in eliminating the diseases is not fully established. Anti-Wolbachia therapy employs antibiotics and is a promising approach showing potent macrofilaricidal activity and also prevents embryogenesis. This has translated to clinical benefits resulting in successful eradication of microfilarial burden, thus averting the risk of adverse events from target species as well as those due to co-infection with loiasis. Doxycycline shows potential as an anti-Wolbachia treatment, leading to the death of adult parasitic worms. It is readily available, cheap and safe to use in adult non-pregnant patients. Besides doxycycline, several other potential antibiotics are also being investigated for the treatment of LF and onchocerciasis. This review aims to discuss and summarise recent developments in the use of anti-Wolbachia drugs to treat onchocerciasis and LF.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Myocysticercosis of the Masseter Muscle

Nath S, Prajapati VK, Pulikkotil SJ

J Coll Physicians Surg Pak, 2019 Feb;29(2):196.

PMID: 30700369 DOI: 10.29271/jcpsp.2019.02.196

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use*

Imported eosinophilic fever with myositis: A diagnostic challenge

Camprubí D, Rodriguez-Valero N, Losada I, Grau-Junyent JM, Muñoz J

Travel Med Infect Dis, 2018 05 23;24:16.

PMID: 29802894 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2018.05.009

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Fulltext Lymphatic pathology in asymptomatic and symptomatic children with Wuchereria bancrofti infection in children from Odisha, India and its reversal with DEC and albendazole treatment

Kar SK, Dwibedi B, Das BK, Agrawala BK, Ramachandran CP, Horton J

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2017 Oct;11(10):e0005631.

PMID: 29059186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0005631

BACKGROUND: Once interruption of transmission of lymphatic filariasis is achieved, morbidity prevention and management becomes more important. A study in Brugia malayi filariasis from India has shown sub-clinical lymphatic pathology with potential reversibility. We studied a Wuchereria bancrofti infected population, the major contributor to LF globally.

METHODS: Children aged 5-18 years from Odisha, India were screened for W. bancrofti infection and disease. 102 infected children, 50 with filarial disease and 52 without symptoms were investigated by lymphoscintigraphy and then randomized to receive a supervised single oral dose of DEC and albendazole which was repeated either annually or semi-annually. The lymphatic pathology was evaluated six monthly for two years.

FINDINGS: Baseline lymphoscintigraphy showed abnormality in lower limb lymphatics in 80% of symptomatic (40/50) and 63·5% (33/52) of asymptomatic children. Progressive improvement in baseline pathology was seen in 70·8, 87·3, 98·6, and 98·6% of cases at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months follow up, while in 4·2, 22·5, 47·9 and 64·8%, pathology reverted to normal. This was independent of age (p = 0·27), symptomatic status (p = 0·57) and semi-annual/bi-annual dosing (p = 0·46). Six of eleven cases showed clinical reduction in lymphedema of legs.

INTERPRETATION: A significant proportion of a young W. bancrofti infected population exhibited lymphatic pathology which was reversible with annual dosage of DEC and albendazole. This provides evidence for morbidity prevention & treatment of early lymphedema. It can also be used as a tool to improve community compliance during mass drug administration.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov No CTRI/2013/10/004121.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use*

A fatal case of malignant neurocysticercosis

Ong SCL, Koh KC

BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Sep 27;2017.

PMID: 28954760 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-222281

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Muscular sarcocystosis: an index case in a native Malaysian

Mohammad N, Besari AM, Nair PK, Wan Ghazali WS

BMJ Case Rep, 2017 Jul 26;2017.

PMID: 28747414 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2017-220490

A previously healthy 20-year-old man presented with prolonged intermittent low grade fever and cough for 6months. He had bilateral calf pain and lower limb weakness 2days prior to admission. Physical examination revealed multiple enlarged lymph nodes with hepatomegaly. There was bilateral calf tenderness with evidence of proximal myopathy. Full blood picture showed lymphocytosis with reactive lymphocytes and eosinophilia. Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase were markedly elevated. Over 2 weeks of admission, patient was treated symptomatically until the muscle biopsy of right calf revealed eosinophilic myositis with muscular sarcocystosis. He was treated with albendazole and high-dose corticosteroids. Symptoms subsided on reviewed at 2weeks and the dose of corticosteroid was tapered down slowly over a month. Due to poor compliance, he was readmitted 1month later because of relapsed. High-dose corticosteroid was restarted and duration for albendazole was prolonged for 1month. His symptom finally resolved over 2weeks.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Fulltext Developing and evaluating health education learning package (HELP) to control soil-transmitted helminth infections among Orang Asli children in Malaysia

Al-Delaimy AK, Al-Mekhlafi HM, Lim YA, Nasr NA, Sady H, Atroosh WM, et al.

Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:416.

PMID: 25179100 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-416

This study was carried out to develop a health education learning package (HELP) about soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections, and to evaluate what impact such a package could have in terms of reducing the incidence and intensity of STH infections among Orang Asli schoolchildren in Pahang, Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Fulltext Does vitamin A supplementation protect schoolchildren from acquiring soil-transmitted helminthiasis? A randomized controlled trial

Al-Mekhlafi HM, Anuar TS, Al-Zabedi EM, Al-Maktari MT, Mahdy MA, Ahmed A, et al.

Parasit Vectors, 2014;7:367.

PMID: 25127885 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-367

Despite the intensive global efforts to control intestinal parasitic infections, the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections is still very high in many developing countries particularly among children in rural areas.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Follicular cutaneous larva migrans: a report of three cases and review of the literature

Veraldi S, Persico MC, Francia C, Nazzaro G, Gianotti R

Int J Dermatol, 2013 Mar;52(3):327-30.

PMID: 23414157 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-4632.2012.05723.x

Hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is characterized clinically by erythematous and slightly raised tracks, located especially on the feet. These tracks may be single or multiple, linear or serpiginous, more or less ramified and intertwined. The length is variable (up to many cm); the width ranges from 1 mm to 4 mm. Tracks are often accompanied by severe pruritus.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Growth reduction among primary schoolchildren with light trichuriasis in Malaysia treated with albendazole

Tee MH, Lee YY, Majid NA, Noori NM, Raj SM

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 2013 Jan;44(1):19-24.

PMID: 23682433

We studied asymptomatic primary schoolchildren in northeastern Malaysia with light to moderate trichuriasis to determine the effect of albendazole treatment on growth rates and TNF-alpha levels. Thirty-seven schoolchildren aged 6-7 years with stool samples positive for Trichuris trichiura and negative for other geohelminths and protozoa were randomized to receive albendazole 400 mg or a placebo daily for 2 days. Anthropometric parameters at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months were compared between the 2 groups. The placebo group had a significantly greater increase in height (p = 0.04) than the albendazole treatment group. There were no significant differences in urinary TNF-alpha levels (p = 0.8) between the 2 groups and no significant changes between baseline and 1 month post-treatment levels. Further studies are needed to determine the etiology of this apparent association between the albendazole treatment group and the delay in growth rate at 6 months post-treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use*

Fulltext Symptomatic chronic strongyloidiasis in children following treatment for solid organ malignancies: case reports and literature review

Norsarwany M, Abdelrahman Z, Rahmah N, Ariffin N, Norsyahida A, Madihah B, et al.

Trop Biomed, 2012 Sep;29(3):479-88.

PMID: 23018511

Strongyloidiasis is an infection caused by the intestinal nematode Strongyloides stercoralis. Infected healthy individuals are usually asymptomatic, however it is potentially fatal in immunocompromised hosts due to its capacity to cause an overwhelming hyperinfection. Strongyloidiasis could be missed during routine screening because of low and intermittent larval output in stool and variable manifestations of the symptoms. We present two cases of strongyloidiasis occurring in children with solid organ malignancies suspected to have the infection based on their clinical conditions and treatment history for cancer. Both patients were diagnosed by molecular and serological tests and were successfully treated. Thus, strongyloidiasis in patients undergoing intensive treatment for malignancies should be suspected, properly investigated and treated accordingly.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Zoonotic Brugia pahangi filariasis in a suburbia of Kuala Lumpur City, Malaysia

Tan LH, Fong MY, Mahmud R, Muslim A, Lau YL, Kamarulzaman A

Parasitol Int, 2011 Jan;60(1):111-3.

PMID: 20951228 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2010.09.010

Five local Malaysian patients with clinical manifestations consistent with lymphatic filariasis were referred to our medical centre between 2003 and 2006. Although no microfilariae (mf) were detected in their nocturnal blood samples, all were diagnosed to have lymphatic filariasis on the basis of clinical findings and positive serology results. PCR on their blood samples revealed that two of the patients were infected with Brugia pahangi, an animal filarial worm hitherto not known to cause human disease in the natural environment. All the patients were successfully treated with anti-filarial drugs: four patients were treated with a combination of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) and albendazole, and one with doxycycline. Four of them were residents of Petaling Jaya, a residential suburbia located 10 km southwest of Kuala Lumpur city, Malaysia. The fifth patient was a frequent visitor of the suburbia. This suburbia has no history or record of B. malayi infection. The most likely vector of the worm was Armigeres subalbatus as extensive entomological surveys within the suburbia revealed only adult females of this mosquito species were infected with B. pahangi larvae. Wild monkeys caught in the suburbia were free from B. pahangi mf, but domestic cats were mf positive. This suggests that infected cats might be the source of the zoonotic infection in the suburbia.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Fulltext Intraocular nematode with diffuse unilateral subacute neuroretinitis: case report

Yusoff M, Alwi AA, Said MM, Zakariah S, Ghani ZA, Zunaina E

BMC Ophthalmol, 2011;11:15.

PMID: 21679403 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2415-11-15

Live intraocular nematode is a rare occurrence. Nematode can migrate actively within the eye, creating visual symptoms and damaging ocular tissue.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Fulltext Creeping eruption

Yap FB

Int J Infect Dis, 2010 Jun;14(6):e545.

PMID: 19889564 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2009.07.006

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use*

Transvitreal migration of a Toxocara larva resulting in a second chorioretinal granuloma

Sivaratnam D, Subrayan V, Ali NA

Jpn. J. Ophthalmol., 2008 Sep-Oct;52(5):416-417.

PMID: 18991049 DOI: 10.1007/s10384-008-0569-z

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Fulltext Neurocysticercosis an uncommon intra-cerebral infection in Malaysia

Arasu K, Khairul A, Waran V

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Oct;60(4):514-6.

PMID: 16570721

Neurocysticercosis, infection of the central nervous system (CNS) by larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, is the commonest neuroparasitic infection in humans. However in countries as in Malaysia it poses a diagnostic problem as the disease in not seen amongst the local population; however with the arrival of immigrant workers, a number of cases have recently been diagnosed. There were 3 cases of neurocysticercosis reported in our centre over the last 5 years.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

Fulltext Efficacy of albendazole in the treatment of Trichuris trichuria and Giardia intestinalis infection in rural Malay communities

Penggabean M, Norhayati, Oothuman P, Fatmah MS

Med J Malaysia, 1998 Dec;53(4):408-12.

PMID: 10971985

A community study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of a 3-day course of 400 mg albendazole daily in the treatment of Trichuris trichiura and Giardia intestinalis infection. This treatment regimen was effective in the treatment of Trichuris trichiura and Giardia intestinalis infection with cure rates of 91.5% and 96.6% respectively. Uses of a 3-day course of 400 mg albendazole daily should be considered in mass or targeted soil-transmitted helminths chemotherapy particularly in areas where the prevalence of Trichuris trichiura is high and polyparasitism is common.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use*

Fulltext Ascariasis, trichuriasis, and growth of schoolchildren in Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia

Raj SM, Naing NN

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1998 Dec;29(4):729-34.

PMID: 10772554

A study to determine the effect of antihelminthic treatment on growth and nutritional status was undertaken on 103 children in the second grade of primary school, 71 of whom were found to be infected with Ascaris lumbricoides or Trichuris trichiura. The median Ascaris and Trichuris intensities in the infected group were 19,600 (range; 0-488,000) and 2,800 (range; 0-84,600) eggs per gram of feces respectively. Forty-three children harbored both types of worm. Fourteen weeks after two 400 mg doses of albendazole were administered to infected children, the increases in weight, height, weight for age, height for age and weight for height were significantly higher among infected children than controls who were uninfected at baseline. The observed gains were independent of sex and socioeconomic status. Decrease in log transformed Trichuris intensity correlated with increases in weight (r=0.24; p=0.02) and weight for age (r=0.20; p=0.06) but decrease in Ascaris intensity did not correlate with increases in any of the anthropometric parameters. The results suggest that antihelminthic treatment has beneficial short-term effects on growth and nutritional status of a modest magnitude among early primary schoolchildren in the area.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use*

Fulltext Intestinal geohelminthiasis and growth in pre-adolescent primary school children in Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia

Mahendra Raj S

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1998 Mar;29(1):112-7.

PMID: 9740282

A cohort of one hundred 8-9 year old school children in Northeastern Peninsular Malaysia underwent stool examination, weight and height measurements. Seventy-three children were infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and/or Trichuris trichiura. All infected children were treated with albendazole at baseline, 6 months and 9 months. Measurements were repeated on all but 2 children at 1 year. Repeat stool examination (n = 94) at 1 year revealed a marked reduction in the level of Ascaris infection and a modest reduction in Trichuris infection. There was no difference in net growth between treated children and uninfected controls. Post-hoc analysis by gender however revealed that infected girls (n = 33) experienced significantly higher increments in weight, height and weight for age. Furthermore, children found to be infected at baseline level but worm free at follow-up, were observed to have experienced greater increments in height and height for age. The evidence suggests that periodic antihelminthic treatment may have a positive effect on the growth of subsets of pre-adolescent children but it is emphasised that further work is required to validate these findings.

Matched MeSH terms: Albendazole/therapeutic use

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