title: Microfilarial distribution of Loa loa in the human host: population dynamics and epidemiological implications.
abstract: Severe adverse events (SAEs) following ivermectin treatment may occur in people harbouring high Loa loa microfilarial (mf) densities. In the context of mass ivermectin distribution for onchocerciasis control in Africa, it is crucial to define precisely the geographical distribution of L. loa in relation to that of Onchocerca volvulus and predict the prevalence of heavy infections. To this end, we analysed the distribution of mf loads in 4183 individuals living in 36 villages of central Cameroon. Mf loads were assessed quantitatively by calibrated blood smears, collected prior to ivermectin distribution. We explored the pattern of L. loa mf aggregation by fitting the (zero-truncated) negative binomial distribution and estimating its overdispersion parameter k by maximum likelihood. The value of k varied around 0.3 independently of mf intensity, host age, village and endemicity level. Based on these results, we developed a semi-empirical model to predict the prevalence of heavy L. loa mf loads in a community given its overall mf prevalence. If validated at the continental scale and linked to predictive spatial models of loiasis distribution, this approach would be particularly useful for optimizing the identification of areas at risk of SAEs and providing estimates of populations at risk in localities where L. loa and O. volvulus are co-endemic.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire mixte IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement) - CPC (Centre Pasteur du Cameroun) d'Epidémiologie et de Santé publique, Centre Pasteur du Cameroun, BP 1274, Yaoundé, Cameroun. s.pion@no-log.org
authors.forename: S D S
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pion
authors.forename: J A N
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Filipe
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kamgno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gardon
authors.forename: M-G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Basáñez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boussinesq
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D016010:Binomial Distribution; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D005369:Filaricides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008117:Loa / Q000254:growth & development*; D008118:Loiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000254:growth & development*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides; D007559:Ivermectin