Answer 96
Loa loa
True a. is confined to Central and West Africa
False b. is spread by the vector Aedes aegypti
True c. may cause a high eosinophilia (>10x10^9/L)
False d. is diagnosed by histological examination of skin snips
True e. is treated with DEC
High eosinophilia is particularly suggestive of infection with filarial worms or strongyloidiasis.
The vector is Crysops.
The diagnosis is usually made by finding microfilariae in the blood. Adult worms are sometimes (dramatically) seen crossing the eye subconjunctivally. Adult worms are also located in the pathognomonic Calabar swellings.
