@article{fdi:010096013,
  title = {{F}emale {L}oa loa worm polyinfection in human hosts},
  author = {{R}ajaonarivelo, {J}eanne {A}. and {M}ariac, {C}{\'e}dric and {C}ubry, {P}hilippe and {L}ardal, {N}ora and {C}hesnais, {C}{\'e}dric and {C}ampillo, {J}{\'e}r{\'e}my and {B}oussinesq, {M}ichel and {S}abot, {F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {P}ion, {S}{\'e}bastien},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{L}oiasis is widespread in {C}entral {A}frica. {S}ome acute symptoms are associated with high {L}oa loa microfilaraemia, but the relation between the latter and the adult worm burden infecting an individual with loiasis is still unclear. {T}his study aims to determine whether polyinfection by several reproductive female worms could be assessed using genetic variation in the mitochondrial genome of microfilariae. {M}icrofilariae were collected from the individuals' blood. {A}n optimization of the {DNA} extraction method that provides enough genetic material and minimization of human host contamination was the first step of the study. {E}xtracted {DNA} was sequenced using the {I}llumina platform. {G}enetic variation in the mitochondrial genome was assessed by identifying polymorphic {S}ingle {N}ucleotide {P}olymorphisms ({SNP}s) and estimating the number of haplotypes. {D}edicated {DNA} extraction kits yielded more {DNA} extracted (mean: 530 ng; {SD} = 211) from dried blood smears than the in-house chloroform-isoamyl method (mean: 102.5 ng; {SD} = 118). {F}iltering the slide elution and venous blood with 5 mu m pore size microfilters improved parasite {DNA} mapping rates (54.64-79.65%). {A}nalysis of polymorphism in the microfilariae mitochondrial genome from three individuals revealed 50, 207 and 332 polymorphic {SNP}s, respectively. {A} total of 7 to 20 mitochondrial {DNA} haplotypes were identified, representing the minimum number of fertile female worms. {T}his study presents the first approach to estimating the {L}. loa female worm burden and highlights female parent polyinfection in individuals with loiasis.},
  keywords = {female worm burden ; infection intensity ; loiasis ; mitochondrial genome ; polymorphism},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{P}arasitology},
  volume = {[{E}arly access]},
  numero = {},
  pages = {[10 p.]},
  ISSN = {0031-1820},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1017/s0031182025101285},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010096013},
}