The Epidemiology of Amebiasis in Mentally Retarded Institutions in Taiwan

Abstract

Poli is one of the areas with high endemicity of onchocerciasis in Cameroon. Invermectin distribution campaign started there since 1993 but there has been no evaluation of the contribution of this measure to the decrease of the prevalence of the disease in the covered area. This study sort to determine the prevalence of onchocerciasis the microfilarial load and IgG3 levels of randomly chosen indigenous (112) who spent most of their lifetime in the Poli area. All persons retained for examination had either never taken ivermectin or had their last dose of ivermectin more than six months before the starting of the present study. The overall prevalence of human onchocerciasis in the eight villages studied was 65.18%. The prevalence was higher (68%) in males than females (59.45%). The microfilarial (mf) density was also higher in the male population (1.48 mf/mg of skin) than the females (1.34 mf/mg of skin). The prevalence of onchocerciasis for the four age groups: 5-20 years. 21-30 years. 31-50 years. >50 years 58.33%, 53.57%, 75.00%, 70.83% respectively while the microfilarial density for these same age groups (1.15 mf/mg of skin, 1.46 mf/mg of skin, 1.68 mf/mg of skin respectively. IgG3 response was higher in females than males and globally, IgG3 levels increased with age in onchocerciasis patients. Sex and age significantly influence the prevalence (P < 0.001 and P0.05). Only age significantly influence the microfilarial density (P 50 years. IgG3 levels did not however, show any correlation with microfilarial density (r = 0.006; P > 0.05). It is evident from this study that after close to a decade of onchocerciasis control in Poli, the disease is still highly endemic there. Health personal in Poli, high authorities of Cameroon Ministry of Public Health and the W.H.O are therefore alerted to visualise new strategies to reinforce control measures in view of the eradication of ''river blindness'' in Poli using the present epidemiological picture.