Current status of onchocerciasis in Colombia.
To assess the current epidemiologic status of onchocerciasis in Colombia two surveys were undertaken in 1995 in a suspected new focus on the border between Colombia and Ecuador and in the known focus located on the Micay River. No new focus was found along the Colombia-Ecuador border. In the known focus, communities along the upper Micay River and its tributaries were surveyed; 655 adults underwent physical examinations and skin biopsies. Infected individuals were found almost exclusively in the community of Naiciona, where prevalence of infection was 40% (36 of 91). Polymerase chain reaction detection of onchocercal DNA in skin snips correlated with the skin-snip biopsy results. The prevalence of punctate keratitis, the only ocular manifestation found, was 33%. A rapid entomologic assessment demonstrated Simulium exiguum infected with Onchocerca volvulus. This is the first finding in Colombia of naturally infected black flies and confirms S. exiguum as a vector species. These data will be used for implementing a control program using periodic ivermectin distribution.
Corredor
A
A
Instituto de Salud en el Tropico, Universidad Nacional, Bogota, Colombia.
Nicholls
R S
RS
Duque
S
S
Munoz de Hoyos
P
P
Alvarez
C A
CA
Guderian
R H
RH
Lopez
H H
HH
Palma
G I
GI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012843:Simuliidae / Q000469:parasitology