Current status of onchocerciasis in Tudan Wada and Doguwa Local Government Areas of Kano State

Abstract

Epidemiological studies on Onchocerciasis was carried out between July and August, 1998 in some villages in Tudunwada and doguwa Local Government Areas of Kano State. Of the 704 subjects skin snipped, 222(31.5%) were infected with Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae. Males were significantly more infected than females (p<0.01),and infection were found in all age groups. The intensity of O.volvulus infection increased with age in both males and females, but higher in males (7.02 microfilariae per milligram skin). The community microfilarial load (CMFl) based on adult aged 20 years and above was 7.5 microfilarial per milligram skin. Various clinical manifestations of Onchocerciasis like leopard skin (being the most common) itching, nodules, blindness, hanging groin and skin atrophy was found in 13.9%, 10.2%, 8.7%, 3.9%, 0.3% and 0.1% in the population examined respectively. Generally, these symptoms were significantly higher in males than female (p<0.05) and occurred mostly in order age groups. This study had thus confirmed the endemicity of Onchocerciasis in these areas.br>
The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 24 2003: 77-88