Publications by authors named "S Arriens"
Background: Chagas disease (CD) is a major burden in Latin America, expanding also to non-endemic countries. A gold standard to detect the CD causing pathogen is currently not available. Existing real time polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs) lack sensitivity and/or specificity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFilarial parasites can be targeted by antibiotic treatment due to their unique endosymbiotic relationship with Wolbachia bacteria. This finding has led to successful treatment strategies in both, human onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis. A 4-6 week treatment course using doxycycline results in long-term sterility and safe macrofilaricidal activity in humans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComparison of Doxycycline, Minocycline, Doxycycline plus Albendazole and Albendazole Alone in Their Efficacy against Onchocerciasis in a Randomized, Open-Label, Pilot Trial.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
January 2017
Article Synopsis
- A pilot trial in Ghana tested different drug regimens for treating onchocerciasis, comparing MIN (minocycline) with DOX (doxycycline) and ALB (albendazole) to find more effective shorter treatments.
- Out of 158 participants, a high follow-up rate showed that DOX 4 weeks was the most effective, significantly reducing the presence of Wolbachia bacteria in female worms.
- The study indicated that combining DOX with ALB enhanced treatment results, while MIN showed potential for greater effectiveness than DOX, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Multivariable Regression Analysis in Schistosoma mansoni-Infected Individuals in the Sudan Reveals Unique Immunoepidemiological Profiles in Uninfected, egg+ and Non-egg+ Infected Individuals.
PLoS Negl Trop Dis
May 2016
Article Synopsis
- Schistosoma mansoni infections in Sudan notably affect school-aged children, with higher infection rates tied to limited access to clean water.
- A retrospective study of 234 individuals showed that young and adolescent groups are more likely to present with infections, and many infected lack access to sanitation facilities.
- Elevated cytokines such as IL-6, IL-13, and IL-10 were associated with active infections, indicating potential targets for future research on schistosomiasis and non-patent infections.
The sensitivity of a K39 ELISA (Leishmania IgG, Virion/Serion) for the detection of antibodies in patients with imported leishmaniasis was compared with an immunofluorescence assay (IFA), which was applied as "golden standard". The retrospective study comprised 93 IFA-positive or borderline sera from 42 patients with visceral (n = 16) or cutaneous (n = 26) leishmaniasis. Patients had acquired infection predominately in the Mediterranean area or the Middle East.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF