title: Results of a large scale onchocercosis survey in Enugu State, Nigeria.
abstract: The prevalence of onchocercosis was determined in three Local Government Areas (Ezeagu, Oji-River and Uzo-Uwani) in Enugu State, Eastern Nigeria between March 1989 and June 1990. Enugu State was shown to be mesoendemic for onchocercosis. A total of 7472 (26.9%) persons out of 27,831 examined were positive for skin microfilariae. There was no significant difference in infection rates between males (27.6%) and females (26.2%). Of the 118 villages surveyed only five had no inhabitant with skin microfilariae. There was a progressive increase of prevalence to the second decade of life, although 96.6% of cases with skin microfilariae had only a light infection. Onchocercomata prevalence was recorded as 27.3% which tallies with the prevalence of skin microfilariae at 26.9% hence onchocercomata prevalence may be used as a yardstick for predicting skin microfilariae prevalence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Entomology, Enugu State University of Technology, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Nwaorgu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohaegbula
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Onweluzo
authors.forename: E T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Alo
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Nweke
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Agu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Emeh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D017181:Onchocerca volvulus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015827:Onchocerciasis, Ocular / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000469:parasitology