What
Loiasis is a filarial disease caused by the eye worm Loa loa.
Where
Central and West Africa
Symptoms
Itchy, non-painful swelling in the body, eye worms and worms crawling underneath the skin
DOLF Project’s contributions
DOLF researchers have focused on improving diagnosis of loiasis and were the first to discover that heavy Loa loa infections can cause false positive diagnostic tests for lymphatic filariasis. Our team has since discovered the reasons for this cross-reactivity and developed new tests specifically for loiasis.
Additional information
Loa loa has traditionally been considered less harmful than the worms that cause lymphatic filariasis or onchocerciasis, but it represents a significant barrier to eradicating those diseases because the drugs given to help treat them can cause serious side effects including coma and death in people with a Loa loa infection. Onchocerciasis- and lymphatic filariasis-endemic areas overlap extensively with forested regions in Africa that are highly endemic for loiasis (see map). Research is urgently needed to identify ways to address this problem.
Learn more about loiasis from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.