Detection of Mansonella ozzardi in patients with acute febrile illness in Colombia

Mansonellosis is a vector-borne filariasis caused by parasitic nematodes of the genus Mansonella. The prevalence and health impact of mansonellosis is largely unknown, and there are no control programmes targeting this neglected tropical disease. Mansonellosis is prevalent in certain regions of Colombia, and while infection is often thought to be asymptomatic it may be associated with underrecognized clinical manifestations. In this study, we analyzed biobanked specimens from 905 patients participating in a febrile syndrome surveillance program in Colombia for evidence of Mansonella ozzardi infection, identifying four confirmed cases. While there have been prior reports on the incidence of mansonellosis in Colombia, this is the first report to our knowledge describing M. ozzardi microfilariae occurring in febrile patients in the country. Additional studies are needed to better understand the clinical consequences of mansonellosis within the complex tropical environment of Colombia, which is endemic for numerous other blood-transmitted and other vector-borne pathogens.