Evaluation of onchocerciasis seroprevalence in Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea) after years of disease control programmes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Onchocerciasis or "river blindness" is a chronic parasitic disease caused by the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus, transmitted through infected blackflies (Simulium spp.). Bioko Island (Equatorial Guinea) used to show a high endemicity for onchocerciasis. During the last years, the disease control programmes using different larvicides and ivermectin administration have considerably reduced the prevalence and intensity of infection. Based on this new epidemiological scenario, in the present work we aimed to assess the impact of the strategies applied against onchocerciasis in Bioko Island by an evaluation of IgG4 antibodies specific for recombinant Ov-16 in ELISA.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bioko Island from mid-January to mid-February, 2014.

SUBMITTER: Hernandez-Gonzalez A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5028998 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature