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Mansonella ozzardi
Epidemiology:
1) Central & South America
2) certain Caribbean islands
3) transmitted by:
a) Culicoides (midges)
b) Simulium (blackflies) [Caribbean]
Pathology:
1) adult worms rarely recovered from humans
2) microfilariae circulate in blood without periodicity
3) generally considered non-pathogenic
Clinical manifestations:
1) headache
2) articular pain
3) pulmonary symptoms
4) adenopathy
5) hepatomegaly
6) pruritus
3) individuals may be asymptomatic
Laboratory:
1) diagnosis is made by detection of microfilariae in peripheral blood smear (no sheaths)
2) complete blood count: eosinophilia
Management:
1) no therapy has been proven effective
2) ivermectin was effective in a single case report
General
Mansonella
Properties
KINGDOM: animal
PHYLUM: helminth
References
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 14th ed.
Fauci et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1998, pg 1216
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed.
Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY, 1994, pg 920