blood cells (i.e. leukocytes) due to a loss of blood plasma; where as absolute eosinophilia is purely an increase in white blood cell production. Of those with relative eosinophilia, 40% were undiagnosed until these studies. Therefore, there is a great need for thorough parasitological studies in this area of tropical infectious diseases. Treatments The standard of care is administration of antifilarial drugs, most commonly Ivermectin or diethyl-carbamazine (DEC). The most efficacious dose in all nematode and parasitic infections is 200 μg/kg of ivermectin. There has also been other various anthelminthic drugs used, such as mebendazole, levamisole, albendazole and thiabendazole. In worst-case scenarios, surgery may be necessary to remove nematodes from the abdomen or chest. However, mild cases usually do not require treatment. Epidemiology Acanthocheilonemiasis is caused by the parasite, mansonella perstans. M. perstans is primarily found in central Africa and in some areas of South America, therefore the most affected populations are located in these areas. Acanthocheilonemiasis affects humans in these areas in equal numbers. The prevalence of this condition does significantly increase with age. Furthermore, the parasite is most commonly found in areas of tropical forests with alternating swamps and open ground. Approximately 114 million people in Africa are infected with M. perstans, including 33 sub-Saharan African countries. Recent studies focused on Gabon specifically, where febrile and tropical diseases are common. Contrary to popular recent suggestions, M. perstans does not influence the emergence of febrile diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis, bacteremia, and malaria. In general, hemoglobin levels in individuals with malaria are severely reduced from that of a healthy individual. Reduced levels occur because the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, utilizes human hemoglobin as its major energy source. Filariasis, in combination with severe malaria, actually shows higher hemoglobin levels than in severe malaria alone. In addition, M. perstans did not have adverse effects on those with HIV, as there were actually higher levels of CD4 in HIV patients co-infected with M. perstans. Further research in this area may allude to clinical manifestations of this infectious disease, as there could be possible benefits by contracting M. perstans. Tropical and sub-tropical regions are the main areas affected by nematodes and parasitic worms, which often causes filariasis. Around 20% of immigrants to Spain are children from these regions. History The clinical manifestations of A. perstans were first discovered in London in the blood of a patient from West Africa in 1890. The parasite was