Prevalence of endemic Bancroftian filariasis in the high altitude region of south-eastern Nigeria .
J Vector Borne Dis
;
2011 June; 48(2): 78-84
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-142770
ABSTRACT
Background & objectives:
The study was aimed at determining the prevalence and intensity of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia in a high altitude region of south-eastern Nigeria, and ascertaining the prevalence of clinical signs and symptoms associated with the filarial infections.Methods:
Thick smear of 50 l finger-prick blood collected at night between 2200 and 0200 hrs from consenting persons were stained with Giemsa and examined microscopically in a cross-sectional study. Consenting individuals were examined for various gradations of hydrocele, limb and scrotal elephantiasis by qualified medical personnel.Results:
The prevalence of W. bancrofti microfilaraemia was 4.3%, highest in the older people but comparable in both sexes. The overall microfilarial (mf) geometric mean intensity (GMI) among mf positive individuals was 123 mf/ml of blood (138 mf/ml for males and 110 mf/ml of blood for females); and rose significantly with increasing age (one-way analysis of variance; p < 0.001). Prevalence of clinical manifestations was hydrocele (7.1%), scrotal elephantiasis (4%), and limb elephantiasis (6%). The mf GMI was significantly higher among those without hydrocele or limb elephantiasis than among those with the clinical manifestations (t-test; p <0.05 for both tests); the opposite was the case for scrotal elephantiasis, (t-test; p <0.01).Conclusion:
Filariasis is endemic in the high altitude region of south-eastern Nigeria. The chronic clinical manifestations observed there underscore the need for urgent combination therapy interventions.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Language:
English
Journal:
J Vector Borne Dis
Journal subject:
Parasitology
/
Tropical Medicine
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
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