ABSTRACT
A cross-sectional survey carried out in the Chaco region of Bolivia showed that 26% (77 of 296) and 0.7% (2 of 298) of the rural population of the Camiri and Villa Montes areas, respectively, harbored Mansonella ozzardi microfilariae (mf). No significant differences were observed between sexes. The lowest prevalence (9%) was in the 0-14-year-old age group, with no children <11 months of age infected. The prevalence increased sharply in the 25-34-year-old age group (32%), and continued increasing in the older age classes. Microfilaremia, ranging from 1 to 305 mf/20 microl of blood, was lowest in 0-14-year-old children (geometric mean concentration = 1.1 mf/20 microl), and increased with age (>100 mf/20 microl in people >44 years old). An expected increasing sensitivity with the blood volume examined was observed. No significant association between clinical symptoms (fever, skin rash, pruritus, headache, lymphedema, elephantiasis, and articular pain) and microfilaremia was observed.
Subject(s)
Mansonella/isolation & purification , Mansonelliasis/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Animals , Bolivia/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Infant , Logistic Models , Male , Mansonelliasis/blood , Middle Aged , Parasitemia/epidemiology , Prevalence , Rural Population , Sex DistributionABSTRACT
We conducted a cross-sectional study to determine the seroprevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses (HAV and HEV) in the population of two rural areas, Camiri and Villa Montes, of the Chaco region, south-eastern Bolivia. HAV antibodies were detected in 461 (94.1%) of 490 serum samples tested, not differing significantly between sexes and study areas. The HAV seropositivity rate (64.7%) was high even in the youngest age group (1-5 years). The prevalence of HEV was 7.3%, with no significant differences between sexes. The prevalence of HEV antibodies in the population of the Camiri area (10.4%) was significantly higher than in the Villa Montes area (4.4%), possibly due to the better quality of drinking water in the Villa Montes area. In the population /= 31 year-old group. This is consistent with findings in other countries. This is the first report of the prevalence of HEV infection in Bolivia.