{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,18]],"date-time":"2026-06-18T18:53:38Z","timestamp":1781808818907,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":35,"publisher":"American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene","issue":"1","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2018,7,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>Loiasis is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by the filarial nematode <jats:italic>Loa loa<\/jats:italic> and transmitted by the tabanid vectors from the genus <jats:italic>Chrysops<\/jats:italic>. <jats:italic>Loa loa<\/jats:italic> infection is associated with clinical manifestations such as pruritus, migratory transient edema, passage of adult worm in the bulbar conjunctiva, retinal damage, glomerular damage, albuminuria, pleural effusion, hydrocele, and endomyocardial fibrosis. Data reporting the occurrence of spontaneous encephalopathy associated with loiasis are very scanty. Severe adverse events occurring post-ivermectin administered in the framework of the fight against onchocerciasis and\/or lymphatic filariasis in loiasis co-endemic areas have been closely associated with very high <jats:italic>L. loa<\/jats:italic> microfilariaemia. Different regimens have been used to lower <jats:italic>L. loa<\/jats:italic> microfilariaemia before definitive treatment, and many discrepancies have been reported. We report the case of a patient who was admitted to a health facility and hospitalized for 34 days for altered consciousness, blurred vision, headache, and chills. After other potential diagnoses were eliminated, the patient was confirmed with encephalopathy due to loiasis and referred to the Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT). On admission at CRFilMT, the patient was harboring 28,700 microfilariae per milliliter of blood (mf\/mL), and after four 21-day courses of 400 mg daily albendazole, the <jats:italic>L. loa<\/jats:italic> microfilariaemia lowered to 5,060 mf\/mL. The patient was then treated with ivermectin 3 mg and a total clearance of microfilariae was observed, with satisfactory clinical evolution and no adverse event. This case study further confirmed that albendazole is effective against <jats:italic>L. loa<\/jats:italic>, but might necessitate a longer course.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.4269\/ajtmh.17-0664","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2018,5,9]],"date-time":"2018-05-09T07:00:52Z","timestamp":1525849252000},"page":"112-115","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":17,"title":["Case Report: Probable Case of Spontaneous Encephalopathy Due to Loiasis and Dramatic Reduction of Loa loa Microfilariaemia with Prolonged Repeated Courses of Albendazole"],"prefix":"10.4269","volume":"99","author":[{"given":"Divine B.","family":"Arrey-Agbor","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hugues C.","family":"Nana-Djeunga","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon;"},{"name":"Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Parasitology and Ecology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, University of Yaound\u00e9 1, Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Aude E.","family":"Mogoung-Wafo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mirabelle","family":"Mafo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christian","family":"Danwe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Yaound\u00e9 Military Hospital, Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon;"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Joseph","family":"Kamgno","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Research on Filariasis and other Tropical Diseases (CRFilMT), Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon;"},{"name":"Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaound\u00e9 1, Yaound\u00e9, Cameroon"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"2795","reference":[{"key":"b1","series-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis","first-page":"e1210","article-title":"The geographic distribution of Loa loa in Africa: results of large-scale implementation of the rapid assessment procedure for loiasis (RAPLOA)","volume":"5","author":"Zoure","year":"2011"},{"key":"b2","series-title":"Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"529","article-title":"Loa loa and Mansonella perstans filariasis in the Chaillu mountains, Congo: parasitological prevalence","volume":"83","author":"Noireau","year":"1989"},{"key":"b3","series-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol","first-page":"495","article-title":"Relationships between the prevalence and intensity of Loa loa infection in the Central province of Cameroon","volume":"95","author":"Boussinesq","year":"2001"},{"key":"b4","series-title":"Bull Soc Pathol Exot","first-page":"342","article-title":"Hyperendemic loaiasis in the Tikar plain, shrub savanna region of Cameroon [in French]","volume":"94","author":"Kamgno","year":"2001"},{"key":"b5","series-title":"Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"983","article-title":"Loiasis: African eye worm","volume":"102","author":"Padgett","year":"2008"},{"key":"b6","series-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"1056","article-title":"Loa loa microfilarial periodicity in ivermectin-treated patients: comparison between those developing and those free of serious adverse events","volume":"81","author":"Kamgno","year":"2009"},{"key":"b7","series-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"1142","article-title":"Filarial antigenemia and Loa loa night blood microfilaremia in an area without bancroftian filariasis in the Democratic Republic of Congo","volume":"91","author":"Bakajika","year":"2014"},{"key":"b8","series-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol","first-page":"715","article-title":"Loiasis","volume":"100","author":"Boussinesq","year":"2006"},{"key":"b9","series-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol","first-page":"573","article-title":"Prevalences of Loa loa microfilaraemia throughout the area endemic for the infection","volume":"91","author":"Boussinesq","year":"1997"},{"key":"b10","author":"Kamgno","year":"2016"},{"key":"b11","series-title":"Parasitol Today","first-page":"279","article-title":"Loa loa\u2014a neglected filaria","volume":"4","author":"Pinder","year":"1988"},{"key":"b12","series-title":"J Infect Dis","first-page":"544","article-title":"Immunological correlates of the hyperresponsive syndrome of loiasis","volume":"157","author":"Nutman","year":"1988"},{"key":"b13","series-title":"J Infect Dis","first-page":"1318","article-title":"Loiasis in endemic and nonendemic populations: immunologically mediated differences in clinical presentation","volume":"163","author":"Klion","year":"1991"},{"key":"b14","series-title":"Lancet","first-page":"18","article-title":"Serious reactions after mass treatment of onchocerciasis with ivermectin in an area endemic for Loa loa infection","volume":"350","author":"Gardon","year":"1997"},{"key":"b15","author":"American Psychiatric Association","year":"2000"},{"key":"b16","author":"Akue","year":"2011"},{"key":"b17","series-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"379","article-title":"A controlled trial to assess the effect of quinine, chloroquine, amodiaquine, and artesunate on Loa loa microfilaremia","volume":"82","author":"Kamgno","year":"2010"},{"key":"b18","series-title":"Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"777","article-title":"Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial with ivermectin on Loa loa microfilaraemia: efficacy of a low dose (similar to 25 \u00b5g\/kg) versus current standard dose (150 \u00b5g\/kg)","volume":"101","author":"Kamgno","year":"2007"},{"key":"b19","series-title":"Parasite","first-page":"59","article-title":"Effect of a single dose (600 mg) of albendazole on Loa loa microfilaraemia","volume":"9","author":"Kamgno","year":"2002"},{"key":"b20","series-title":"PLoS Negl Trop Dis","first-page":"e0004492","article-title":"Effect of two or six doses 800 mg of albendazole every two months on Loa loa microfilaraemia: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial","volume":"10","author":"Kamgno","year":"2016"},{"key":"b21","series-title":"J Infect Dis","first-page":"5","article-title":"Albendazole in human loiasis: results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial","volume":"168","author":"Klion","year":"1992"},{"key":"b22","series-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"211","article-title":"Human loiasis in a Cameroonian village: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical trial of a three-day albendazole regimen","volume":"71","author":"Tabi","year":"2004"},{"key":"b23","series-title":"Ann Trop Med Parasitol","first-page":"707","article-title":"Effects of a 3-day regimen of albendazole (800 mg daily) on Loa loa microfilaraemia","volume":"96","author":"Tsague-Dongmo","year":"2002"},{"key":"b24","series-title":"Ophthalmic Epidemiol","first-page":"13","article-title":"Ocular findings after ivermectin treatment of patients with high Loa loa microfilaremia","volume":"7","author":"Fobi","year":"2000"},{"key":"b25","series-title":"Filaria J","first-page":"6","article-title":"A possible case of spontaneous Loa loa encephalopathy associated with a glomerulopathy","volume":"5","author":"Lukiana","year":"2006"},{"key":"b26","series-title":"Handb Clin Neurol","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"91","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-444-53490-3.00006-6","article-title":"Cerebral malaria","volume":"114","author":"Postels","year":"2013"},{"key":"b27","series-title":"Trop Doct","first-page":"52","article-title":"Neurological involvement associated with Plasmodium vivax malaria from Pakistan","volume":"48","author":"Khan","year":"2017"},{"key":"b28","series-title":"J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry","first-page":"103","article-title":"Encephalitis in Loa-loa filariasis","volume":"18","author":"Van Bogaert","year":"1955"},{"key":"b29","series-title":"Ann Soc Belg Med Trop","first-page":"235","article-title":"Four cases of fatal encephalitis with invasion of the cerebrospinal fluid by microfilaria loa","volume":"32","author":"Kivits","year":"1952"},{"key":"b30","series-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"546","article-title":"Encephalopathy after ivermectin treatment in a patient infected with Loa loa and Plasmodium spp","volume":"78","author":"Kamgno","year":"2008"},{"key":"b31","series-title":"Med Trop (Mars)","first-page":"275","article-title":"Analysis of the prevention of post-ivermectin Loa loa encephalopathy by administration of initial low dose","volume":"60","author":"Kamgno","year":"2000"},{"key":"b32","series-title":"Am J Trop Med Hyg","first-page":"458","article-title":"Short- and long-term action of multiple doses of ivermectin on loiasis microfilaremia","volume":"58","author":"Kombila","year":"1998"},{"key":"b33","series-title":"N Engl J Med","first-page":"2044","article-title":"A test-and-not-treat strategy for onchocerciasis in Loa loa-endemic areas","volume":"377","author":"Kamgno","year":"2017"},{"key":"b34","series-title":"Sci Transl Med","first-page":"286re4","article-title":"Point-of-care quantification of blood-borne filarial parasites with a mobile phone microscope","volume":"7","author":"D\u2019Ambrosio","year":"2015"},{"key":"b35","series-title":"Lancet Infect Dis","first-page":"108","article-title":"Excess mortality associated with loiasis: a retrospective population-based cohort study","volume":"17","author":"Chesnais","year":"2017"}],"container-title":["The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajtmh.org\/view\/journals\/tpmd\/99\/1\/article-p112.xml","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajtmh.org\/downloadpdf\/journals\/tpmd\/99\/1\/article-p112.xml","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajtmh.org\/downloadpdf\/journals\/tpmd\/99\/1\/article-p112.xml","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,7,31]],"date-time":"2024-07-31T17:58:44Z","timestamp":1722448724000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.ajtmh.org\/view\/journals\/tpmd\/99\/1\/article-p112.xml"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2018,7,5]]},"references-count":35,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1"},"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4269\/ajtmh.17-0664","relation":{},"ISSN":["0002-9637","1476-1645"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0002-9637","type":"print"},{"value":"1476-1645","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2018,7,5]]}}}