title: Onchocerciasis in Ecuador: recent observations in the province of Esmeraldas.
abstract: To evaluate the transmission of onchocerciasis that had occurred in the past 6 years in the province of Esmeraldas, in 1986 the onchocercal focus was re-examined using the same methodology as in the original survey of 1980. An increased prevalence of infection of 73.9% was noted, with an increase of 73.0% found in the principal focus, the Santiago Basin, and a 76.7% increase in the satellite foci. In the principle focus, a higher increase was noted on the Rio Santiago (88.8%) than on the Rio Cayapas (68.6%), while an increase of only 39.7% was seen on the Rio Onzoles. Geographical extension of both the onchocercal focus and its respective hyperendemic areas were found on the Rio Cayapas and Rio Santiago. A higher increased prevalence of infection was found in the children (210.0%) than in the adults (29.5%). In the satellite foci, the Rio Canande showed the higher increase of infection (146.4%), with an increase of 61.3% seen in adults and 1409.1% in children. Active transmission of the disease exists in all onchocercal foci, each with its distinct and varying intensity.
authors.affiliation: Onchocerciasis Project, Quito, Ecuador.
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Guderian
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Isabel
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004463:Ecology; D004484:Ecuador; D006801:Humans; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D011158:Population Growth