Review of Mansonella ozzardi and its Vectors in the Neotropical Region with Emphasis on the Current Situation in Haiti

Abstract

Mansonella ozzardi (Nematoda: Onchocercidae) is an understudied filarial nematode. This human parasite transmitted by two families of dipteran vectors, biting midges (most of them members of the genus Culicoides) and black flies (genus Simulium), is endemic to the Neotropic regions of the New World. With a patchy geographic distribution from southern Mexico to northwestern Argentina, human infection with M. ozzardi is highly prevalent in some of the Caribbean islands, along riverine communities in the Amazon Basin, and on both sides of the border between Bolivia and Argentina. Studies conducted in Haiti between 1974 and 1984 allowed the first complete description of adult worm and permitted to clarify the taxonomic position of this filarial species. In this paper, the author reports the known geographic distribution of M. ozzardi in neotropical regions of America and Caribbean, and focuses on the current situation in Haiti where this filariasis remains a completely neglected public health problem.

Editor Note: Journal of Bacteriology and Parasitology

“…The results obtained in the study indicated the presence of Klebsiella species that were highly resistant against Apart from the above discussed research articles, the current issue also published a review article by Raccurt [5], that presents a wholesome summarization of the extant literature on Mansonella ozzardi, a filarial nematode. The article serves to attract the attention of medical researchers regarding the fact that though the organism is highly prevalent and endemic to some of the Caribbean islands, riverine communities of the Amazon Basin, and in Bolivia and Argentina, its etiological and pathophysiological aspects remain largely unexplored [5]. The publication of such articles may help in the conceptualization and conduct of novel research studies that may further serve to unearth hitherto unexplored aspects of such endemic diseases.…”

An updated list of the Culicoides (Diptera, Ceratopogonidae) fauna from Ecuador

“…Moreover, C. acotylus, C. fluvialis, and C. leopoldoi are suspected to cause allergic dermatitis in humans [8]. Finally, C. guttatus may play a role as a vector of mansonellosis, a neglected tropical disease [38] and of BTV [8]. Further investigations are needed to determine the role of these species in dermatological disorders.…”