Current knowledge on the epidemiology, diagnosis, immunology, and treatment of loiasis.

At the Centre International de Recherches Médicales (CIRMF) in Franceville, Gabon, a mini-symposium was held on the progress made in the research and control of loiasis from 20-22 February, 1995. The mini-symposium fulfilled its role as a platform for summarising and discussing recent advances in the research of this filarial infection and enabled the formulation of the presently most challenging issues: a specific and sensitive diagnostic test, the potential of ivermectin as a mass treatment and the factors and mechanisms of occult loiasis.