Loiasis in US Traveler Returning from Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, 2016

Emerg Infect Dis. 2017 Jan;23(1):160-162. doi: 10.3201/eid2301.161427.

Abstract

The filarial parasite Loa loa overlaps geographically with Onchocera volvulus and Wuchereria bancrofti filariae in central Africa. Accurate information regarding this overlap is critical to elimination programs targeting O. volvulus and W. bancrofti. We describe a case of loiasis in a traveler returning from Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, a location heretofore unknown for L. loa transmission.

Keywords: African eye worm; Bioko Island; Chrysops dimidiate; Chrysops files; Chrysops silacea; Chrysops species; Equatorial Guinea; Loa loa; Onchocerca volvulus; Wuchereria bancrofti; autochthonous infection; deerflies; diethylcarbamazine; filarial infections; filarial nematode; ivermectin; loiasis; lymphatic filariasis; neglected tropical diseases; onchocerciasis; parasites; travel medicine; traveler; vector-borne infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Diethylcarbamazine / therapeutic use
  • Diptera / parasitology*
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Female
  • Filaricides / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Insect Vectors / parasitology*
  • Islands
  • Loa / drug effects
  • Loa / pathogenicity*
  • Loa / physiology
  • Loiasis / diagnosis*
  • Loiasis / drug therapy
  • Loiasis / parasitology
  • Loiasis / transmission
  • Travel
  • United States

Substances

  • Filaricides
  • Diethylcarbamazine