Lymphatic filariasis in a rural community in Nigeria: a challenge ahead.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) represents a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Following the admission of a 65 year old man from Sowo village Abeokuta Ogun State with a case of LF at the Federal Medical Centre Abeokuta, a cross-sectional based survey was carried out to determine the occurrence and prevalence of LF in this village. Identification of the LF parasite was carried out with blood stained with Giemsa and examined under low power magnification for the presence of sheathed microfilaria. Out of 317 persons examined 54 (17%) were microfilaraemic and their ages varied from 10 to 70 years. The age group 40-49 has the highest prevalence of 36.5% and highest mean microfilaria count of 4.8mf/mL. In the age group 20-29, females (12.8%) were more infected than males (9.3%) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.0042). In all more males (17.8%) were affected than females (16.9%) (P=0.9481) and the mean MF count in males (22.8mf/ML) was higher than females (21.7mf/ML). The prevalent rate of elephantiasis and hydrecoele observed in the community was 2.2% respectively. The result of this study confirms and observed a high prevalence rate of LF in this community. This finding establishes the need for Ministry of Health (MOH) and Global Alliance to Eliminate LF (GAELF) to carry out disease control activities through Annual Mass Drug Administration (MDA) in this community.

Pathogenic intestinal parasites and bacterial agents in solid wastes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the profile of potentially pathogenic enteric parasites and bacterial agents in municipal refuse dumps in Ibadan, Nigeria. DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Five major market places refuse dumps in Ibadan municipality, Nigeria. METHODS: The major market places in Ibadan city were randomly selected by lottery method. The refuse sludge were sampled and examined parasitologically and bacteriologically using the methods as described. Data analysis was done by using chi-square test where applicable. RESULTS: Cases of multiple intestinal parasites and bacterial agents were commonly encountered in the sludge refuse samples. The commonly found parasitic agents were of both human and veterinary importance. These include Ascaris Lumbricoides (9.3 egp), Entamoeba histolytica (8.07 cyst per gram), Hookworm/strongyle (6.27 egp) and Ascaris suum (1.07 egp). Others were Ascaris vitolorum (1.09 epg), Strongyloides papillosu (0.52 larvae per gram.), Schistosoma suis (0.31 epg) Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.9 egp). The most commonly found bacterial agents were Klebsiella species, Escherichia Coli, Proteus species, streptococci, and other gram-positive organisms. Climatic conditions affected the distribution of both parasites and bacterial agents in the sludge (P<0.001). More intestinal parasites 2423 (53.4%) and bacterial agents 2150 (27.2%) were encountered at mean air temperature 26.1 +/- 0.6, mean relative humidity of 72 +/- 3.5%. The degree of contamination by market locations varies significantly (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: A high degree of contamination of solid waste dumpsites with bacterial and parasitic agents was observed in the present study. As a result of the public health importance of the organisms isolated it is opined that well planned waste management and health education programs will go a long way to reduce the potential epidemic risks posed by such sites in Ibadan, Nigeria.