View clinical trials related to Filariasis.
Filter by:The purpose of this study is to check blood samples for lymphatic filariasis to determine whether the recent Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis was successful in controlling lymphatic filariasis in areas of Egypt. Volunteers will participate in a health assessment program carried out by Ain Shams University and approved by the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population. This program includes a brief interview and laboratory tests to detect worm parasites in participants' blood. Volunteers and family members found to have worms in their blood will be referred for treatment. This study will provide early detection of this parasitic infection and referral for prompt treatment in order to prevent spread of the infection to others. Approximately 23,500 people, 6 years of age and older, will participate per year. Study participants will include people living in areas of Egypt that are known to have the filariasis parasite. Volunteers will participate for up to 2 years.
This study, conducted in Chennai, India, will determine whether a new treatment regimen of albendazole and diethylcarbamazine for lymphatic filariasis can eliminate the disease more quickly than the standard regimen. Lymphatic filariasis is caused by infection with very small filarial worms, particulalry Wuchereria bancroti, that are spread by mosquitoes. The infection can lead to swelling of the arms, legs, breast and scrotum and can progress to permanent swelling of the legs or arms called elephantiasis. The study will see if a higher and more frequent dose of albendazole is better at clearing filarial worms from the blood than the current treatment. Healthy people between 18 and 55 years of age who are in good health and who are infected with Wuchereria bancrofti may be eligible for this 28-month study. Candidates must be willing to spend 4 days in the Government General Hospital in Chennai, India, at the beginning of the study. They are screened with a medical history, a brief physical examination, ultrasound (picture generated by sound waves) of the groin or chest, and blood tests to check for infection with Wuchereria bancrofti and to measure white blood cell counts. Participants undergo the following procedures: -4-day hospitalization Random assignment to receive either standard treatment (400 mg albendazole and 300 mg DEC given once a year for 2 years) or the experimental regimen (800 mg albendazole and 300 mg DEC given twice a year for 2 years) Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age Receive first treatment dose Monitoring for symptoms -6-month outpatient visit Short history, physical examination and blood test Second treatment dose for subjects receiving 800 mg albendazole Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age -1-year outpatient visit Short history, physical examination and blood test Second or third treatment dose, depending on treatment group Repeat ultrasound in subjects whose first ultrasound detected adult worm Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age -18-month outpatient visit Short history, physical examination and blood test Fourth treatment dose for subjects receiving 800 mg albendazole Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age -24-month outpatient visit Short history, physical examination and blood test Final dose of albendazole and DEC at standard doses Repeat ultrasound in subjects whose first ultrasound detected adult worms Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age
This study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Tuberculosis Research Centre and YRG-Care in Chennai, India, will examine how treatment of lymphatic filariasis in HIV-infected patients influences the amount of HIV virus in the blood and the progression of HIV infection to AIDS. Filarial infections are common in Chennai, and it is important to understand whether treatment of filariasis affects the course of HIV disease. The information gained from this study could be used to modify treatments for people both with HIV and filarial infections. Patients 18 years of age and older who are receiving treatment for HIV infection at the Government Hospital HIV clinic or YRG-Care may be eligible for this study. Two groups of patients will be recruited - patients with both HIV and filarial infections, and patients who have HIV infection alone, without filariasis. Candidates are screened with a medical history and review of medical records, physical examination, and blood and stool tests. Women have a urine pregnancy test. Within one month of screening, all participants receive a single dose of diethylcarbamazine and albendazole, a drug regimen commonly used to treat filarial infection. Patients are followed closely for the first 2 weeks after treatment to check for side effects. They are then seen at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after the treatment dose for a physical examination and blood test.
This study will examine: 1) the safety and effectiveness of the drug doxycycline in reducing the number of Mansonella perstans (Mp) worms in the blood of infected patients, and 2) the effects of doxycycline followed by albendazole and ivermectin treatment for lymphatic filariasis, caused by the parasitic worm Wuchereria bancofti (Wb). Both Mp and Wb very small filarial worms that are spread by mosquitoes. Some people are infected with both Mp and Wb. Although most people do not become ill from infection with these parasites, some develop symptoms. Wb can cause swellings in the arms, legs, breast, and scrotum, and can progress to permanent swelling of the legs or arms called elephantiasis. Mp can cause itching, swelling, fever, headache, or other symptoms. Ivermectin and albendazole are medicines used to treat lymphatic filariasis. They eliminate the Wb parasite from the blood but do not affect Mp. Doxycycline is used to treat many kinds of infections and has also recently been shown to reduce the number of filarial worms in several types of filarial infections. The drug may be useful in Mp infections as well. Residents of Sabougou and nearby villages in Mali who are infected with the Mp parasite, are between 14 and 65 years of age, are in good health, are not pregnant or breastfeeding, and weigh at least 40 kg (88 lb) may be eligible for this study. They may or may not also be infected with Wb. Candidates are screened with a brief medical history and physical examination and blood tests to look for infection with Mp and Wb. Participants undergo a complete physical examination and medical history. Blood is drawn for routine blood tests. Participants are then randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups, as follows: 1) doxycycline for 6 weeks; 2) doxycycline for 6 weeks followed by a single dose of albendazole and ivermectin given 6 months after the beginning of doxycycline treatment; 3) a single dose of albendazole and ivermectin given 6 months after the beginning of doxycycline treatment; or 4) no treatment. Only patients infected with Wb receive albendazole and ivermectin treatment. All participants, whether or not they receive doxycycline, come to the clinic every day for 6 weeks. Every 2 weeks during this time, they have a blood test and, in women of childbearing age, a urine pregnancy test. After 6 months, they have a medical history, physical examination, and blood tests. Subjects in the albendazole/ivermectin treatment group are given the pills to take at that time. One year and three years after beginning the study, participants return to the clinic for a final history, physical examination, and blood tests. At the end of the first year of the study, all participants who tested positive for lymphatic filariasis but did not receive ivermectin and albendazole will be offered treatment with these medicines Ivermectin and albendazole will also be distributed by the Mali government to everyone in the villages as part of a program to eliminate lymphatic filariasis in the country.
This study, conducted in Mali, West Africa, will determine whether a new treatment regimen for lymphatic filariasis can eliminate the disease more quickly than the standard regimen. Lymphatic filariasis is caused by infection with very small filarial worms called Wuchereria bancrofti that are spread by mosquitoes. The disease can cause swelling of the arms, legs, breast and genitalia and can progress to permanent swelling of the legs or arms called elephantiasis. Currently, patients in Mali are treated with a single dose of 400 mg of albendazole plus two doses of 200 mcg/kg of ivermectin each year. This study will use a regimen of 800 mg of albendazole twice a year plus 200 mcg/kg of ivermectin twice a year for 2 years. The study will see if the new regimen is more effective in lowering the numbers of Wuchereria bancrofti in the blood and will examine the effects of the two treatments on the adult worms living in the lymph system. Healthy people between 14 and 65 years of age who live in the Mali village of N'Tessoni and are infected with Wuchereria bancrofti may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history, a brief physical examination and blood tests to check for infection with Wuchereria bancrofti and to measure white blood cell counts. Participants undergo the following procedures: -First visit Ultrasound examination to look for filarial worms in the body. Random assignment to receive either standard treatment or the experimental regimen Urine pregnancy test for women of child-bearing age. Receive first treatment dose. -6-month visit Short history, physical examination and blood test. Second treatment dose for subjects in experimental treatment group. Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age. -1-year visit Short history, physical examination and blood test. Second or third treatment dose, depending on treatment group. Repeat ultrasound in subjects whose first ultrasound detected adult worms. Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age. -18-month visit Short history, physical examination and blood test. Fourth treatment dose for subjects in experimental treatment group. Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age. -24-month visit Short history, physical examination and blood test. Repeat ultrasound in subjects whose first ultrasound detected adult worms. Urine pregnancy test for women of childbearing age.
The impact of lymphatic filariasis (LF) on HIV is assessed by measuring HIV viral load before and after DEC treatment of filariasis in double-infected individuals. The impact of HIV on lymphatic filariasis is assessed by measuring the success of DEC treatment on W. bancrofti antigenaemia and microfilaraemia in double-infected individuals. The effect of DEC treatment in individuals with lymphatic filariasis and/or HIV is assessed by measuring the pre- and post-treatment level of HIV viral load, immunological responses and micronutritional parameters, including antioxidants and markers of oxidative stress, in single- or double-infected individuals. The study is carried out as an anonymous, unlinked and double-blind placebo controlled study with cross-over design. The study groups comprise: 1) 18 double-infected individuals (HIV+/LF+), 2) 16 HIV infected individuals (HIV+/LF-) and 3) 25 individuals with lymphatic filariasis (HIV-/LF+). Based on stratified, blocked randomisation the study participants receive DEC treatment or placebo. Pre- and post-treatment (1 week, 12 weeks and 24 weeks post-treatment) blood samples are collected and analysed for HIV viral load, CD4+ T cell count, distinctive Th1 and Th2 cytokines, circulating filarial antigens (CFA), micronutrient status, antioxidant enzymes and markers of oxidative stress. After 12 weeks the study participants get the opposite treatment and post-treatment blood samples are collected four times with the same intervals as above.
Wuchereria bancrofti, is a mosquito-transmitted parasite that causes deforming lymphatic filariasis in the tropics. Improved treatment methods have led to new thinking that it should be possible to interrupt transmission and eliminate this major public health problem by repeated, annual cycles of mass treatment with new single dose combination drug regimens. Egyptian villages involved in the study will be surveyed. Household members above 4 years of age will be tested for filariasis. Also, children in the first year classes of primary schools (5 to 6 years of age) will be tested for parasite infection. Village populations will be treated for filariasis as part of the MOH national filariasis elimination program. Children under age 5, pregnant women, and people with severe underlying illness are excluded from the program.
Introduction. Lymphatic filariasis is a devastating mosquito-transmitted parasitic disease that causes lymphedema or elephantiasis of the leg in 15 million persons, the majority of whom are women. In these persons, frequent bacterial infections ("acute attacks") of the legs adversely affect physical health, economic well-being, and quality of life. Prevention of bacterial infections through hygiene and skin care can result in significant improvements in lymphedema and patient well-being. Methods. To determine the extent to which antibacterial soap can help reduce the incidence of acute bacterial infections of the lower limbs in persons with filarial lymphedema, 200 patients of the Ste. Croix Hospital lymphedema treatment clinic in Leogane, Haiti randomly assigned to receive either antibacterial (Safeguard) or placebo (Camay) soap and acute attacks monitored monthly for 12 months. Both groups received specific instructions on washing and skin care.
This study will evaluate and treat patients with filarial infections to explore in depth the immunology of the disease, including susceptibility to infection, disease development, and response to treatment. Filarial infections are caused by parasitic worms. The immature worm (larva) is transmitted to a person through a mosquito bite and grows in the human body to 2 to 4 inches in length. Although many of these infections do not produce symptoms, especially in the early stages of infection, others can have serious consequences, including swelling of the limbs or genitalia, allergic-lung problems, skin rash, eye inflammation that can lead to blindness, and heart disease. This protocol does not involve any experimental diagnostic procedures or treatments, and will use only procedures employed in the standard practice of medicine. Persons between 3 and 100 years of age diagnosed with or suspected of infection with Wuchereria bancrofti, Bugia malayi, Onchocerca volvulus, Loa loa, or other parasitic worms may be eligible for this study. Participants will have routine tests to determine the specific type of filarial infection. These may include special tests of the lungs, skin or heart, depending on the type of parasite suspected. Patients with skin reactions may have a "punch biopsy" to examine a small piece of affected skin. For this procedure, an area of skin is numbed with an anesthetic and a small circular area, about 1/3-inch in diameter and 1/2-inch thick, is removed using a sharp cookie cutter-type instrument. Some patients may require bronchoalveolar lavage. For this procedure, the mouth and throat are numbed with lidocaine jelly and spray and, if needed, a sedative is given for comfort. A small plastic tube is placed in a vein to give medications. A pencil-thin tube is then passed through the nose or mouth into the lung airways to examine the airways. Salt water is injected through the bronchoscope into the air passage, acting as a rinse. A sample of the fluid is then withdrawn and examined for infection, inflammatory cells and inflammatory chemicals. (Bronchoalveolar lavage is done only if medically necessary and only on patients 21 years or older.) Once the diagnosis is established, standard treatment will be instituted with either diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin, depending on the type of infection. Additional procedures for research purposes include: - Extra blood draws to study immune cells and other immune substances. (This is the only research procedure that will be done in - More frequent and extensive follow-up evaluations than usual for routine care. They will include physical examination and blood studies. - Urine collections at specified periods, possibly including 24-hour collections. - Skin tests to examine the body s reaction to allergens-common environmental substances, such as cat dander or pollen-that cause an allergic reaction. The test is done in one of two ways: either the skin is lightly scratched and an allergen extract is placed over the just-broken skin, or a very fine needle is used to inject a small amount of allergen under the skin. In both methods, the site is monitored for swelling or hives in the next 48 hours. - Leukapheresis (only on patients 21 or older ) to collect quantities of white blood cells. Whole blood is collected through a needle in an arm vein, similar to donating blood. The blood circulates through a machine that separates it into its components, and the white cells are removed. The rest of the blood is returned to the body, either through the same needle or through another needle in the other arm.