[Mansonelliasis in the southeast Venezuelan Orinoquia region]

Physical exam and skin biopsy were performed and peripheral blood samples drawn from 10% of the inhabitants of 26 jungle villages of the State of Bolívar, Venezuela. One hundred and fifty three Indians and an inhabitant of mixed blood from 13 different communities were found to be infected with mansonelliasis representing a global index of 36.40% in the endemic area. The parasitosis was found to be concentrated in three areas. The largest, located in the southwest of the country and forming part of an extent infected area embarking neighboring parts of Venezuela and Brazil, contains villages with a parasite index of 80.76% and 94.44%. A second focus is located in the southeast, its carriers, as those of the first, are infected with Mansonella ozzardi. In a third, central eastern focus infections with Mansonella pertans were found. The patients infected with M. ozzardi were apparently asymptomatic and their physical exam was normal, even though individual parasite densities up to 30,000 microfilariae/ml blood and 22,000/gr skin were found.