Discovery of a new focus of human onchocerciasis in central Brazil

An autochthonous case of human onchocerciasis was reported 13 years ago in the town of Minacu, northern Goias (Brazil), but a subsequent survey of the population using the traditional technique of examining skin biopsies with the light microscope failed to detect other cases. Recent surveys using mo re sensitive diagnostic techniques (serodiagnosis, DNA probes, Mazzotti tes t) that are detailed in this paper revealed the presence of other cases of the disease in Minacu, the nearby town of Formoso and at the Buracao gold m ine near Parana. The data show that transmission of the disease has occurre d to local people living in town and on farms and that gold miners (garimpe iros) are a likely source of infection.