Molecular Epidemiology of Mansonella Species in Gabon. (25th October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sandri, Thaisa Lucas; Kreidenweiss, Andrea; Cavallo, Simon; Weber, David; Juhas, Sascha; Rodi, Miriam; Woldearegai, Tamirat Gebru; Gmeiner, Markus; Veletzky, Luzia; Ramharter, Michael; Tazemda-Kuitsouc, Gildas B; Matsiegui, Pierre Blaise; Mordmüller, Benjamin; Held, Jana
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 223:Number 2(2021)
• Page Start: 287
• Page End: 296
• Publication Date: 2020-10-25
• Subjects: Mansonella perstans -- Mansonella sp "DEUX" -- Loa loa -- Wolbachia -- epidemiology -- coinfection -- real-time polymerase chain reaction; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa670
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Mansonella perstans, a filarial nematode, infects large populations in Africa and Latin America. Recently, a potential new species, Mansonella sp "DEUX, " was reported. Carriage of endosymbiotic Wolbachia opens treatment options for Mansonella infections. Within a cross-sectional study, we assessed the prevalence of filarial infections in 834 Gabonese individuals and the presence of the endosymbiont Wolbachia . Almost half of the participants (400/834 [48%]) were infected with filarial nematodes, with Mansonella sp "DEUX" being the most frequent (295/400 [74%]), followed by Loa loa (273/400 [68%]) and Mansonella perstans (82/400 [21%]). Being adult/elderly, male, and living in rural areas was associated with a higher risk of infection. Wolbachia carriage was confirmed in M. perstans and Mansonella sp "DEUX." In silico analysis revealed that Mansonella sp "DEUX" is not detected with currently published M. perstans– specific assays. Mansonella infections are highly prevalent in Gabon and might have been underreported, likely also beyond Gabon. Abstract : The recently described Mansonella sp "DEUX" is 4 times more prevalent in Gabon than Mansonella perstans and is not detectable with established molecular assays, presumably leading to an underestimation of Mansonella epidemiology.