Mansonelliasis, a neglected parasitic disease in Haiti

• Main Authors: Christian Pierre Raccurt, Philippe Brasseur, Jacques Boncy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2014-09-01
• Series: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz.
• Subjects: mansonelliasis; Mansonella ozzardi; Haiti; neglected tropical disease
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762014000600709&lng=en&tlng=en

Reported in Haiti as early as 1923, Mansonella ozzardi is still a neglected disease ignored by the health authorities of the country. This review is an update on the geographic distribution of the coastal foci of mansonelliasis in Haiti, the epidemiological profile and prevalence rates of microfilariae in people living in endemic areas, the clinical impact of the parasite on health and the efficiency of the transmission of the parasite among three Culicoides biting-midge species identified as vectors in Haiti. Additionally, interest in establishing a treatment programme to combat this parasite using a single dose of ivermectin is emphasised.