Onchocerciasis in Taraba State, Nigeria: clinical-epidemiological study of at-risk males in Bakundi District.
An epidemiological study of 1366 adult males from fourteen communities of Bakundi district of Taraba State, Nigeria was carried out to establish the prevalence and intensity of onchocerciasis. The findings of the study showed that 45.2% of subjects were infected. Ten communities had infection rates in excess of 30%. Lizard skin and leopard skin were seen in 3.5% and 2.0%, respectively, and increased with increasing age. Hanging groin (2.6%) and scrotal enlargement (8.6%) were also observed. There was a good correlation between the infection rate on one hand and the presence of nodules (r = 0.85, P < 0.05), hanging groin (r = 0.56, P < 0.05) and scrotal enlargement (r = 0.62, P < 0.05) on the other. There was also a significant correlation between the intensity of infection on the one hand and lizard skin (r = 0.67, P < 0.05), leopard skin (r = 0.88, P < 0.05) and hanging groin (r = 0.82, P < 0.05) on the other. Those who worked in the fields (such as hunters, farmers and fishermen) had higher infection than others because of frequent contact with the vector. Extensive surveys of all suspected river valleys must be carried out to identify all those communities which will benefit from ivermectin treatment.
Akogun
O B
OB
Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015995:Prevalence