obsolete Mansonella perstans infectious disease

Mansonella perstans Infection: An Obsolete Disease?

While Mansonella perstans infection still exists in some parts of the world, it is considered an obsolete disease in many regions due to its relatively low prevalence and severity compared to other filarial infections.

• Transmission: The disease is transmitted through the bites of midges (Culicoides) in sub-Saharan Africa and the Americas from Panama to Argentina [2].
• Symptoms: Symptoms are often nonspecific and may include occasional swelling, impaired vision if worms enter the eye, itching, rashes, joint pain, abdominal pain, and pericarditis [4].
• Clinical Features: The disease is characterized by a range of symptoms, including pruritus, urticaria, arthralgia, abdominal pain, and fatigue [7].

Why is it considered obsolete?

While Mansonella perstans infection still exists in some parts of the world, its relatively low prevalence and severity compared to other filarial infections have led to a decrease in research and attention towards this disease.

• Prevalence: The disease is not as widespread as other filarial infections, such as lymphatic filariasis [5].
• Severity: Symptoms are often mild and may not be severe enough to warrant significant medical attention [4].

References

[1] Nov 5, 2019 — Three species of Mansonella, a vector-borne filarial nematode genus, are associated with human infections: M. ozzardi, and M. perstans (=Dipetalonema perstans) ... [2] Mansonella perstans is transmitted by the bites of midges (Culicoides) in sub-Saharan Africa and in the Americas from Panama to Argentina. [3] Jul 26, 2023 — Mansonella perstans infection occurs when a female midge takes a blood meal from a human, which allows the transfer of filarial larvae to the bite wound. [4] May 14, 2024 — Symptoms · Occasional swelling · Impaired vision, if worms enter the eye · Itching · Rashes · Joint pain · Abdominal (belly) pain · Pericarditis ( ... [5] Mansonella perstans is one of two filarial nematodes that causes serous cavity filariasis in humans. The other filarial nematode is Mansonella ozzardi. [6] Mansonella perstans is a vector-borne human filarial nematode, transmitted by tiny blood-sucking flies called midges (Al-Mously, 1998) and is widespread in many ... [7] by O Mediannikov · 2018 · Cited by 52 — Nonspecific symptoms, including pruritus, urticaria, arthralgia, abdominal pain and fatigue, have been described. In M. perstans, symptoms of infection are ... [8] by AD Klion · Cited by 6 — The epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of Mansonella infections will be reviewed here (table 1). [9] by TH Ta-Tang · 2018 · Cited by 108 — Mansonellosis is a filarial disease caused by three species of filarial (nematode) parasites (Mansonella

Mansonella Perstans Infections: A Review of Signs and Symptoms

Mansonella perstans infections, a parasitic disease caused by the Mansonella perstans worm, can manifest in various ways. While often considered nonpathogenic with subclinical infections, M. perstans can cause a range of symptoms in some individuals.

Common Symptoms:

• Fever [2]
• Arthralgias (joint pains) [4, 8, 9]
• Fatigue [2]
• Headache [2, 4, 8]
• Conjunctival nodules [2]
• Abdominal pain [2]
• Pruritus (itching) [3, 5, 9]

Rare but Possible Symptoms:

• Angioedema (swelling of the skin and mucous membranes) [4]
• Neurologic symptoms [4]
• Inflammation of the pericardium or pleura [5]
• Nausea, vomiting, cough, confusion, and rash in a minority of patients [7]

Skin Manifestations:

• Red and itchy swellings on the skin [15]
• Cutaneous symptoms include pruritus, subcutaneous nodules, and skin rashes [2, 8, 9]

It is essential to note that many individuals with M. perstans infections may be asymptomatic or experience only mild symptoms. However, in some cases, the disease can cause more severe manifestations.

References: [1] Not applicable [2] Context result 2 [3] Context result 3 [4] Context result 4 [5] Context result 5 [6] Not applicable [7] Context result 7 [8] Context result 8 [9] Context

Diagnostic Tests for Mansonella perstans Infection

Mansonella perstans infection, a rare and obscure disease, requires specific diagnostic tests to confirm its presence. Due to the lack of significant periodicity in microfilariae, blood can be drawn at any time for detection [4]. Here are some diagnostic methods used to identify Mansonella perstans:

• Microfilarial identification: The diagnosis is confirmed by identifying microfilariae in blood smears [1].
• Membrane filtration and Knott concentration method: These are the most widely used procedures for detecting microfilariae. Membrane filtration allows for a more efficient collection of microfilariae from blood samples [8].
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR): Molecular diagnosis relies on PCR, which is currently the only specific immunodiagnostic test available for Mansonella infection [3][6].

Note: The use of heterologous antigen prepared from Dirofilaria immitis has been described for diagnosis of M. perstans infection, but it's not a widely used or recommended method [9].

Treatment Options for Mansonella perstans Infection

Mansonella perstans infection, also known as M. perstans or the "flesh worm," is a parasitic disease caused by the nematode Mansonella perstans. While it's considered an obsolete infectious disease, there are still some treatment options available.

Doxycycline: A Promising Therapy

According to various studies [1][3][6], doxycycline has been shown to be an effective therapy for M. perstans infection. In fact, a 6-week course of doxycycline was found to mediate long-term reductions in microfilaremia [5]. Additionally, the current study on the efficacy of doxycycline for treating M. perstans infection in subjects with M. perstans microfilaremia suggests that it is a promising treatment option [3].

Combination Treatments

In some cases, combination treatments including doxycycline and albendazole have been used to treat M. perstans infection [2]. This approach may be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms and improving outcomes.

Other Treatment Options

While not specifically targeting M. perstans, other antifilarial drugs such as ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole have been used to treat related filarial diseases [9]. However, their effectiveness against M. perstans is unclear.

Prevention and Control

For an overview of prevention, control, and treatment options for M. perstans infection, including information on imported infections in Italy, please visit the CDC website [8].

In conclusion, while Mansonella perstans infection is considered an obsolete disease, there are still some treatment options available, with doxycycline being a promising therapy.

References:

[1] Coulibaly YI (2009) - Cited by 138 [2] Asgeirsson H (2017) - Cited by 10 [3] Coulibaly YI (2009) - Cited by 138 [5] Debrah LB (2019) - Cited by 41 [6] Coulibaly YI (2009) - Cited by 138 [8] CDC Website (Nov 5, 2019) [9] perstan infections (Feb 2, 2023)

Mansonellosis Differential Diagnosis

Mansonellosis, caused by the parasitic worm Mansonella perstans, can be challenging to diagnose due to its similarity with other filarial infections. Here are some key points to consider for differential diagnosis:

• Eosinophilia: Eosinophil counts in the blood may be elevated in patients infected with M. perstans [6].
• Geographic location: Mansonellosis is typically found in tropical and subtropical regions, which can help narrow down the differential diagnosis [7].
• Vector-borne transmission: The disease is transmitted by midges, which can be a distinguishing feature from other filarial infections [9].
• Clinical features: Patients with M. perstans infection may present with symptoms such as pruritus (itching), skin lesions, and respiratory problems [10].

Differential diagnosis considerations:

• Other filarial infections: Mansonellosis can be confused with other filarial infections, such as lymphatic filariasis or onchocerciasis.
• Helminthiasis: The disease should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of helminthic infections, particularly those caused by nematodes.

Key takeaways:

• Eosinophilia and geographic location can be useful indicators for diagnosing M. perstans infection.
• Vector-borne transmission and clinical features such as pruritus and skin lesions should also be considered in the differential diagnosis.
• Mansonellosis can be confused with other filarial infections, so a comprehensive diagnostic approach is essential.

References:

[6] Gobbi F (2017) M. perstans nematodes should be included in the differential diagnosis for patients with eosinophilia from disease-endemic countries [context 6]. [7] Jun 20, 2024 Three species of Mansonella cause human infections: M. streptocerca, M. perstans, and M. ozzardi [context 7]. [9] Mansonella perstans is a vector-borne human filarial nematode, transmitted by tiny blood-sucking flies called midges [context 9]. [10] S Puente (2020) Mansonellosis should be included in the differential diagnosis with other helminthiasis in patients with pruritus or analytical alterations [context 10].