[Onchocerciasis in Ecuador. First endemic focus discovered in the country, clinical, parasitological, and entomological findings (author's transl)].
The first endemic focus of onchocerciasis in Ecuador has been established in the province of Esmeraldas. It is on the Cayapas River about 85 kilometer upstream from the town of Borbón. The endemic focus as far as it is currently known, appears to be localized between the settlements of Sapallo Grande and San Miguel de Cayapas. 87 persons were examined in both settlements. Onchocerciasis was detected in 72 (83%) persons; 62 (86%) were negroes and 10 were Cayapas indians; 42 (58%) were males and 30 were females. 29 (74%) of the weighed skin snips taken from 39 individuals showed a higher microfilarial density from the iliac crest than from the scapula. The following clinical manifestations were found in the positive cases: 45 (63%) with onchocercoma; 31 (43%) with dermatitis, pigmentary changes, atrophy of the skin; 19 (26%) with lymphoadenopathy and lymphoedema of the external genital organs; 32 (44%) with corneal opacities; 49 (68%) with itching of the skin and dermatitis and 23 (32%) without itching but with dermatitis. 274 Simulium were collected biting man. Three species were identified, although the specific names used must be considered as provisional. 59 S. exiguum, 206 S. quadrivittatum and 9 S. antillarum. The black flies were attracted with human bait inside the houses, outside and around the houses and at 500 meters far from the house near a creek. It seems that the three species are anthropophilic and endophilic.