Immune Response and Treatment Effects in People with Filarial Worm Infections Evaluated Through Standard Medical Care

What this Trial Is About

This research focuses on patients with filarial infections, which are caused by parasitic worms transmitted through mosquito bites. The study aims to explore the immune systems response to these infections, including how people become susceptible, develop disease, and respond to treatment. The study includes patients diagnosed with or suspected of having infections such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Onchocerca volvulus, and Loa loa, among others. The research is observational and involves standard medical care without experimental diagnostics or treatments. Participants receive standard treatments like diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin depending on the infection type. Diagnostic tests include routine evaluations and may involve lung, skin, or heart assessments. Some patients might undergo skin biopsies or bronchoalveolar lavage if medically necessary. Additional research procedures include extra blood draws to study immune cells, urine collections, skin allergy tests, and leukapheresis to collect white blood cells in adults. During the study, participants undergo frequent and detailed follow-up evaluations including physical exams and blood tests. Researchers monitor immune responses and clinical outcomes over time, collecting blood and serum samples for laboratory studies. The main goal is to identify markers of infection, treatment responses, and immune regulation over a 10-year period. This long-term observation helps understand disease progression and treatment effects while ensuring patients receive optimal clinical care.

Host Response to Infection and Treatment in Filarial Diseases