SEROPREVALENCE AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATION OF BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS IN OTUKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Anyebe G. E.; Atu; B.O.; Rwang; P. G.; Ombugadu; A.

Volume : VII, Issue : VII, July - 2018

SEROPREVALENCE AND CLINICAL MANIFESTATION OF BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS IN OTUKPO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Anyebe G. E. , Atu, B. O. , Rwang, P. G. , Ombugadu, A.

Abstract :

This study assessed the prevalence of Bancroftianfilariasis and the socio-economic factors responsible for the disease prevalence among the people of Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State, using immunochromatographic Card Test (ICT) procedure, questionnaire administration and physical examination of respondents for clinical manifestation of lymphatic filariasis morbidity. The overall prevalence of lymphoedema and hydrocoel in the area was 3.4% as was evenly observed in both male and female subjects. There was no statistical difference between communities (c²= 8.45, df=5,P > 0.05) and as well as across age groups (c²= 2.72, df=5, P >0.05). Antigenaemia was found in 41 (11.3%) of 363 individuals examined using a randomized design. Majority of the infections (23.3%) were recorded at Aturukpo with the lowest prevalence (3.1%) recorded at Iwili. Statistically, prevalence rate differed significantly between communities (c²= 5.4,df= 1, P < 0.05). On the whole, the highest prevalence of 23 (11.1%) of the 41 antigenaemic individuals was recorded among farmers. A significant difference was observed in the distribution of positive cases of antigenaemia according to occupation (c²=87.4, df=7,P <0.05) but showed nosignificant variationacross age groups (c²= 15.65,df= 11, P>0.05). The findings from this study showed that lymphatic filariasis is a problem in Otukpo Local Government Area (the headquarters of the Idoma�s) hence, an urgent need to institute an elimination and morbidity management programme with a view to halting further transmission of the disease in the area.