Ocular manifestations in patients with Mansonella ozzardi microfilaremia in the City of Coari - AM

• Grant number: 10/11921-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2010
• End date: September 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Rubens Belfort Mattos Junior
• Grantee: Rubens Belfort Mattos Junior
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Denise de Freitas ; Lucas Monferrari Monteiro Vianna

Abstract

Mansonella ozzardi is a microfilariae that parasites humans, being one of the causes of disease mansonelliasis. Its prevalence ranges from 1510 to 18.9% 2 in some published works. The clinical features of mansonelliasis is nonspecific, consisting of fever, coldness in the legs, joint pain, headache and adenitis cruris. It can also present ophthalmic8 and skin lesions. In Amazon, we described for the first time the association between Mansonella and presumed ocular disease in 1998.1-2 It consists of circular corneal lesions, 0.5 to 1.0 mm in diameter, with translucent area between the cornea and limbus, without neovascularization and without affecting the vision. However, there are no reports in the literature confirming the relationship between the parasite and eye disease. Objective: To detect through ophthalmologic evaluation and biopsy of the conjunctiva, limbus and cornea the presence of microfilariae of Mansonella ozzardi using histopathology and PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) for the parasite DNA. Methodology: Cross-sectional evaluation of individuals recruited voluntarily after signing an informed consent form, in the municipality of Coari-AM. Complete ophthalmological exam will be performed and in the presence of suspected eye injury, it will be performed also blood thick smear examination, and biopsy to study the parasite by the histopathological exam and DNA analysis with PCR technique. Justification: M. ozzardi mansonelliasis is a highly prevalent disease in the studied region2,10 and ophthalmic features are still little known. This study can probably leads to substantial benefits to population health and increase scientific knowledge of this parasitic disease. (AU)