Current Diagnostics and Treatment Interventions of Filariasis

This Research Topic explores the current landscape of diagnostic biomarkers and emerging alternative treatment strategies for filarial infections, encompassing lymphatic filariasis, loiasis, and onchocerciasis. These parasitic diseases belong to the group of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), which are disproportionately prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions and continue to impose a substantial public health and socioeconomic burden. Filariasis affects millions worldwide, often leading to chronic morbidity, disability, and social stigmatization due to conditions such as elephantiasis, hydrocele, and blindness.

Despite decades of research and public health interventions, the existing diagnostic approaches remain suboptimal. Traditional diagnostic methods, including microscopic detection of microfilariae in blood smears and serological assays, frequently suffer from limited sensitivity and specificity. These tools often fail to detect infections in the early or asymptomatic stages, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Such diagnostic gaps are compounded by the presence of cross-reactivity with other parasitic infections, which can lead to false positives, while low parasitemia or periodicity of microfilariae can produce false negatives. In turn, these inaccuracies not only hinder timely therapeutic interventions but also challenge epidemiological surveillance and the assessment of elimination programs.

On the therapeutic front, current pharmacological regimens predominantly target the microfilarial stage of the parasite rather than the adult worms responsible for chronic pathology. Agents such as diethylcarbamazine (DEC), ivermectin, and albendazole are effective in reducing microfilarial load but exhibit limited efficacy against adult filariae. Consequently, patients often experience recurrent infections and prolonged disease progression, underscoring the pressing need for the development of adulticidal drugs. Additionally, drug resistance and adverse effects remain ongoing concerns, further complicating treatment strategies.

Given these critical limitations, research into novel diagnostic biomarkers, such as molecular and immunological indicators, is of paramount importance. Innovations like rapid antigen detection tests, nucleic acid amplification techniques, and point-of-care molecular diagnostics hold promise for early, accurate, and field-deployable detection. Simultaneously, the search for new therapeutic agents, including macrofilaricidal compounds, combination therapies, and interventions targeting parasite-host interactions, represents a strategic avenue to enhance treatment efficacy and reduce morbidity.

Overall, advancements in both diagnostics and therapeutics are crucial to bridging the current gaps in filariasis management. Progress in this domain has the potential not only to improve patient outcomes but also to support large-scale public health initiatives aimed at the eventual control and elimination of these debilitating diseases, aligning with global NTD eradication goals.

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: diagnostic biomarkers, filarial infections, neglected tropical diseases, macrofilaricidal therapies, point-of-care diagnostics, lymphatic filariasis, onchocerciasis

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