Resumen

GUDERIAN, RONALD H. et al. ESTUDIOS COMPARATIVOS CLINICOS Y EPIDEMIOLOGICOS DE LA ONCOCERCOSIS ENTRE DOS GRUPOS RACIALES DEL AREA HIPERENDEMICA DE ECUADOR. Parasitol. día [online]. 1998, vol.22, n.1-2, pp. 3-10. ISSN 0716-0720.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0716-07201998000100001.

The importance of racial factors in the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of onchocercosis in the Afro-Ecuadorian and Chachi indigenous races, two distinct ethnic groups in the hyperendemic area of the Ecuadorian onchocercal focus, were evaluated. No difference in the disease prevalence among the two races was noted, although the Chachi had a significant higher dermal microfilariae intensity. Approximately 72.2% of the Afro-Ecuadorians presented with onchocercal skin lesions, as compared to 56.4% of the Chachi. Pretibial depigmentation, sowdah, scrotal elephantiasis and hydrocele were only documented in the Afro-Ecuadorians. Greater prevalence of palpable nodules was found in the Chachi (51.4% vs. 43.0%). Chachi presented with more nodules in the head (25.6% vs 17.6%) and iliac crest (40.1% vs. 30.3%) regions while the Blacks had more nodules in the sacrococcygeal region (18.2% vs 10.8%). Microfilariae in the anterior chamber was seen more frequently in the Chachi (51.9% vs 34.2%). However, a higher prevalence of chorioretinitis and optic atrophy was seen in the Afro-Ecuadorians (17.6% vs 11.2% and 8.5% vs 0.5% respectively). Several possible causes for these differences are discussed

Palabras llave : Onchocercosis; Host response; Racial factors; Ecuador.