title: Rapid assessment method for prevalence and intensity of Loa loa infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the validity of observations on eye worm and Calabar swellings for the rapid assessment of the prevalence and intensity of loiasis at the community level.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 12895 individuals over the age of 15 years living in 102 communities in Cameroon and Nigeria took part in the study. A standardized questionnaire was administered to participants from whom finger-prick blood samples were collected and examined for Loa loa microfilariae. Rapid assessments of the prevalence and intensity of loiasis were made on the basis of a history of eye worm or Calabar swellings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a strong correlation between the indices of the rapid assessment procedures and the parasitological indices of L. loa endemicity. The rapid assessment indices were effective in diagnosing high-risk communities (sensitivity 94-100%; specificity 66-92%). The highest sensitivity (100%) and specificity (92%) were obtained with a rapid assessment procedure based on a history of eye worm lasting 1-7 days together with confirmation by the guided recognition of a photograph of adult L. loa in the eye.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rapid assessment of the prevalence and intensity of loiasis at the community level can be achieved using a procedure based on the history of eye worm lasting 1-7 days together with confirmation by the guided recognition of a photograph of an adult L. loa in the eye.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon. itakoug@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Innocent
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Takougang
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meremikwu
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wandji
authors.forename: Emmanuel V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Yenshu
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aripko
authors.forename: Samson B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lamlenn
authors.forename: Braide L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Eka
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enyong
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meli
authors.forename: Oladele
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kale
authors.forename: Jan H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Remme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005369:Filaricides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007559:Ivermectin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008117:Loa / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000469:parasitology*; D008118:Loiasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D019370:Observation; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000469:parasitology; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D005369:Filaricides; D007559:Ivermectin