[An epidemiological study of human filariasis : loaiasis, dipetalonemiasis, tetrapetalonemiasis, in Douala fisherman of the river Wouri estuary (Cameroon) (author's transl)].

The aim of the study is to establish the prevalence of loaiasis, dipetalonemiasis, tetrapetalonemiasis, with particular emphasis on T. streptocerca infection. Eight small villages located close to Douala in the mangrove area of the Wouri estuary are visited and 788 dermic scarification prints stained with Böhmer hematoxylin are examined. Microfilariae belonging to the species L. loa are found in 11,2 p. 100 of the prints, D. perstans mirofilariae are found in 23,2 p. 100 and T. streptocerca in 6,9 p. 100. The prevalence of filariasis and the parasitic load are higher in male than in female. The older the inhabitants are, the more heavily infected they are found. Except for pruritus and craw-craw associating a filarial infection with characteristic symptoms seems to be difficult in this study.