Epidemiology of filariasis in Malumfashi district of northern Nigeria
Wijeyaratne, P.M.; Verma, O.P.; Singha, P.; Osuhor, P.C.; Motha, B.; Saha, A.L.; Slotboom, A.B.; DeLeon, A.; Bandipo, A.B.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 76: 534-544
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 6759378 Document Number: 190834
A survey in 3 villages in Kaduna State in northern Nigeria in 1977 and 1978 detected microfilaraemia in 471 (30.2%) of 1561 people examined. Detection methods included day-time skin snip and blood film examination, day time blood examination after DEC provocation and night blood examination by smear and concentration. Wuchereria bancrofti and Dipetalonema perstans were confirmed in all 3 villages; 22.6% of people were positive for W. bancrofti, 14.6% for D. perstans and 7.1% for both. Onchocerca volvulus and D. streptocerca were not detected in the 142 skin snips taken. Clinical investigation of 152 people (141 of whom had microfilaraemia) showed that 55 had symptoms. Of the 11 without microfilariae, 5 had symptoms of filariasis. Dissection of mosquitoes indicated that Anopheles funestus and A. gambiae were the main vectors of W. bancrofti in the area.