This allows for the microfilariae that would have been in the tissue to migrate to the liquid phase of the specimen. Additionally, to differentiate the skin-dwelling filariae M. streptocerca and Onchocerca volvulus, a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed using small amounts of parasite material present in skin biopsies. Prevention
Prevention can be partially achieved through limiting contact with vectors through the use of DEET and other repellents, but due to the predominantly relatively mild symptoms and the infection being generally asymptomatic, little has formally been done to control the disease. Treatment
There is no consensus on optimal therapeutic approach. The most commonly used drug is diethylcarbamazine (DEC), but it is, however, often ineffective. Although other drugs have been tried such as praziquantel, ivermectin, and albendozole, none has proven to be reliably and rapidly effective. Mebendazole appeared more active than DEC in eliminating the infection, and had comparable overall responses. Thiabendazole evidenced a small, but significant activity against the infection. A combination of treatments, DEC plus mebendazole, was much more effective than single drug doses. Epidemiology
Mansonelliasis is found in Latin America from the Yucatán peninsula to northern Argentina, in the Caribbean, and in Africa from Senegal to Kenya and south to Angola and Zimbabwe. M. ozzardi is found only in the New World, M. steptocerca is found only in the Congo Basin, and M. perstans is found in both the previously described areas of Africa and Latin America.
Prevalence rates vary from a few percent to as much as 90% in areas like Trinidad, Guyana and Colombia.Infection is more common and has a higher microfilarial dose with age, though studies have found microfilarial dose not to be correlated with symptoms. In parts of rural South America, men have been found more susceptible than women, possibly due to more outdoors work by males as children, and possibly due to cooking fires serving as deterrents to vectors for women who perform more domestic duties. One study in central Africa found M. perstans to be a much more common cause of filariasis symptoms compared to Loa loa and Wuchereria bancrofti.Since most Mansonelliasis is asymptomatic, it has been considered a relatively minor filarial disease, and has a very low, if any, mortality, though there is little data on which to base estimates. History
Mansonelliasis, in the form of M. ozzardi, was first documented in 1897. See also
Filariasis
Mansonella

References
Further reading
Marinkelle CJ, German E (March 1970). "Mansonelliasis in the Comisaría del Vaupes of Colombia". Tropical and Geographical Medicine. 22 (1): 101–11. PMID 5435931. Cohen JM, Ribeiro JA, Martins M (2008). "Acometimento ocular em pacientes com mansonelose" [Ocular manifestations in mansonelliasis]. Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia (in Portuguese). 71 (2): 167–71. doi:10.1590/S0004-27492008000200007. PMID 18516413. Linley JR, Hoch AL, Pinheiro FP (July 1983). "Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) and human health" (PDF). Journal of Medical Entomology. 20 (4): 347–64. doi:10.1093/jmedent/20.4.347. PMID 6312046.