Authors: Eberhard M. L.¹; Melemoko G.²; Zee A. K.³; Weisskopf M. G.⁴; Ruiz-Tiben E.⁵

Source: Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, Volume 95, Number 8, 1 December 2001 , pp. 821-826(6)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

Abstract:

Over the past 10 years, the status of human infection with guinea worm (Dracunculus medinensis) in the Central African Republic (CAR) has been difficult to ascertain. It is unclear if indigenous cases are occurring and whether cases are migrating into the CAR from surrounding countries. A team of investigators visited the CAR in July-August 2000, to attempt to ascertain the presence of indigenous transmission. No cases of true guinea-worm infection (i.e. dracunculiasis) were detected, but three cases of human infection with Onchocerca volvulus, each of which had been misidentified as dracunculiasis, were detected. The unusual presentation of skin blisters and extraction of an intact female O. volvulus are described. As a result of this investigation, and the confusion of onchocerciasis being misidentified as dracunculiasis, the presence of endemic transmission of guinea worm in the CAR remains in question.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Division of Parasitic Diseases, F13, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, U.S.A. 2: Guinea Worm Eradication Programme, Ministry of Health, Bangui, Central African Republic 3: Intervention, Research and Support, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention, 1108 Corporate Square, Atlanta, GA 30329, U.S.A. 4: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, U.S.A. 5: Global 2000 Program of The Carter Center, Atlanta, GA 30307, U.S.A.

Publication date: 2001-12-01

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