Onchocerciasis in the Thyolo highlands of Malawi

Abstract

Skin snips for 23,373 persons living in the Thyolo highlands showed infection with Onchocerca volvulus to be widely but unevenly distributed within the Thyolo highlands. Although 60% of adults in some areas were infected, the intensity of infection was light. Infection with O. volvulus is associated with blindness in the Thyolo highlands, though the number of excess blind due to onchocerciasis is probably less than 300. Persons infected were found to weigh significantly less and to have more symptomatic complaints than those not infected.