Onchocerca volvulus infection in Tihama region - west of Yemen: Continuing transmission in ivermectin-targeted endemic foci and unveiled endemicity in districts with previously unknown status.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Onchocerciasis in Yemen is one of the most neglected diseases, where baseline estimates of onchocerciasis and monitoring of the impact of ivermectin regularly administered to the affected individuals on its transmission are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the anti-Ov16 IgG4 seroprevalence among local communities of Hodeidah and Al-Mahwit governorates of Tihama region. The factors possibly associated with previous exposure to infection were also studied.

Methodology/principal findings

This cross-sectional study was conducted in two ivermectin-targeted districts endemic for onchocerciasis in Hodeidah and Al-Mahwit and two untargeted districts with unknown previous endemicity in Hodeidah between February and July 2017. For 508 residents sampled by a

SUBMITTER: Mahdy MAK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5854432 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature