Characteristics of the overall study population.

According to their diagnostic status, individuals were categorized as either M. perstans-microfilaremic (Mp MF+) or amicrofilaremic (Mp MF-). Microfilariae (MF) numbers are given as mean and median with range. Four healthy European donors (non-endemic normals, NEN) were also recruited into the study. The table shows total sample size, age, gender, health districts and communities of the participants and numbers of individuals which are positive for Ov16-specific antibodies and soil-transmitted helminths (STHs).