Endemicity and clinical manifestations of onchocerciasis in the provinces of Cibitoke and Bubanza (Burundi)

The prevalence and intensity of onchocerciasis in the endemic region of the provinces of Cibitoke and Bubanza (Burundi) have been determined through the examination of a sample of the population of 33 "collines" (administrative units). On average, 15.8 % of the population was positive, which means that in a population at risk of 330,000, about 52,000 peoole are infected. The area is hypoendemic, but some mesoendemic pockets exist along the middle portion of the Ruhwa, Muhira and Kaburantwa rivers. The clinical examination of a subsample showed that respectively 69.1 % and 48.6 % of infected persons complained of pruritus or had skin lesions, which were most often light ones. Subcutaneous nodules were small and difficult to find (32.5 % in infected persons). Vision was 10/10 in 89.1 % of the examined eyes. A slight drop in visual acuity may be attributed to onchocerciasis in 12.8 % of positive cases.