Prevalence and distribution of onchocerciasis in Ahani-Achi Community, Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

The periodic evaluation of onchocerciasis control programmes is paramount in order to ascertain the extent of realization of set goals. Therefore, the demographic pattern of infection in Ahani-Achi Community, Enugu State of Nigeria was investigated from March 2012 to April 2014. Three hundred and twenty-eight (328) participants aged 10->60 years were examined for O. volvulus infection using standard skin snip biopsy technique. Out of this number, 100 (30.49%) tested positive to O. volvulus parasitemia. Females (34.45%) were more infected than males (19.98%), although the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The >60 years age-group was significantly (p<0.05) more infected in females (25.63%) than in males (10%) and farmers were significantly (p<0.05) more infected (40%) than other occupation groups. The study posits that intervention programmes in the area have been reasonably successful but efforts must be sustained towards a possible eradication of the disease.

Keywords: Prevalence; distribution; river blindness (onchocerciasis); Ahani-Achi