Mansonella ozzardi in Haiti. I. Epidemiological survey.

A survey of 1,165 inhabitants of Bayeux, Haiti revealed that 16% were infected with Mansonella ozzardi. This was determined from a single 20 mm3 sample of finger prick blood from each individual. Amont children and young adults (< 20 years of age), fewer than 2% had detectable microfilaremias. Beyond this age the prevalence of infection for males and females was 49% and 24%, respectively. The microfilariae circulate in the peripheral blood with no significant periodicity. In general, the microfilaremias were low, with 71% of the positive cases having less than 10 microfilariae in 20 mm3 of blood; only 4% had more than 50 microfilariae. Histological examination of sectioned skin biopsies showed that the microfilariae dwell within the superficial capillary vessels; not free in the extravascular tissues.