Endemicity of lymphatic filariasis in Three Local Government Areas of Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

A study was carried out to determine and compare the rate of occurrence of lymphatic filariasis in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria. One sample community was selected from each of the LGAs comprising of Umuezereokam in Owerri West, Ebikoro in Owerri North, and Nguru in Ngor Okpala. In all, six hundred blood samples, made up of two hundred each from each of the LGAs were collected at random between 10pm and 12am each screening day, from equal number of male and female volunteers, aged between 11 and 80, and screened for a possible presence of the microfilaria of lymphatic filariasis, using the Giemsa thick stained blood film. Results obtained show that the microfilaria of Wuchereria bancrofti was the only filarial worm isolated in the three LGAs. The results further revealed that Ngor Okpala recorded the highest rate 56 (28%) of infection, followed by Owerri North with 47 (23.5%), while the least was observed in Owerri West with 43 (21.5%). Also, more male, 85 (42.5%) than females, 61 (30.5%) were positive for the disease. There was however, no significant difference (P < 0.05) between the rate of occurrence of the infection in the LGAs between the male and female cases at 95% confidence interval. Lymphatic filariasis will indeed become a veritable public health problem in the LGAs unless its progression is adequately monitored by the relevant government authorities and independent health care providers.

Prevalence of Lymphatic Filariasis in Ndiagu Ikenga Ogidi, Idemili North LGA, Anambra State Nigeria

“…Water found in containers, potholes and all hollow materials that are found around giving mosquitoes the opportunity to breed. This agrees to the work of Obi et al (2011); Wijesinghe et al Results obtained also shows a variation in the distribution of infection in relation to sex, age, occupation and level of education as reported in similar studies (Orji et al, 2009). The high infection observed among the males could be attributed to their level of exposure to mosquito bites.…”

“…Obi et al (2011);Orji et al (2009). Poor or unhealthy environment favours the breeding of the intermediate host coupled with the nature of occupation of the peoples are factors that determines the transmission of lymphatic filariasis in the study area.…”

Larval habitats of mosquito fauna in Osogbo metropolis, Southwestern Nigeria

“…Mosquitoes are of public health importance as they constitute serious biting nuisance and transmit most deadly and life-threatening diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever and bancroftian filariasis [1][2][3][4][5][6] . The brunt of these diseases is mostly felt in Africa due to the poor socio-economic conditions and large expanse of the aquatic habitats which provide conducive breeding sites for the mosquitoes [7,8] .…”

Genetic Variations in Bionomics of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) Mosquito Population in Minna, North Central Nigeria

“…1–3 Culex mosquitoes, especially the species of Culex quinquefasciatus , have been incriminated in the transmission of diseases such as filariasis and elephantiasis in Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. 4–7 It is estimated that more than 1.3 billion people in 83 countries are at risk of infection. 8 Furthermore, the economic burden of these diseases is enormous, as countries such as Nigeria spend billions of public funds, which could have been channeled into other productive sectors of the economy, on fighting these diseases.…”

“…8 Furthermore, the economic burden of these diseases is enormous, as countries such as Nigeria spend billions of public funds, which could have been channeled into other productive sectors of the economy, on fighting these diseases. 9 However, the epidemiology of the diseases in Nigeria is complicated, 6 owing to various factors that are predominantly related to the vector species involved, and these factors include ubiquitous distribution of the disease vector (which increases vector-human contacts), 10 catholic habitation (an inherent ability to survive in an assortment of habitats), 11 varying degree of anthropogenic activities (which provides varieties of suitable oviposition sites for adults and fitting habitats for the larval development), 12,13 clemency of the Afrotropical climate (which favors the rapid development of vectors and parasites), 14,15 and genetic variability. 10,16,17 Among these factors, genetic variability (within and without offsprings/progeny) tends to be most important, as the genetic makeup of an individual species serves as a blue print for vectorial competence, although this may be highly modified by the environment.…”