The status and consequences of Mansonella perstans infection in Calabar, Nigeria.

Two aetiological studies on filariasis were conducted from January to June, 1993. In the first study, 690 blood samples clinically diagnosed of filariasis were examined. In the other, 150 blood samples and 150 skin snips collected from the same group of eye clinic Patients clinically diagnosed of filariasis were investigated. Of the 690 subjects, 108 (15.64%) had filariasis with M. perstans and Loa loa accounting for 98.15 and 1.85% of positive cases respectively. Among the eye clinic patients, 16% had M. perstans while O. volvulus was seen in 4% of patients. There was no concurrent infection with these two agents. A statistically significant association existed in the frequency of M. perstans in the different ages treated (p > 0.01) while non existed by sex (p > 0.01). The possible involvement of M. perstans in ocular filariasis and its treatment are discussed.