Study on the Prevalence of Onchocerca volvulus Infection among the Inhabitants of Awgu and Oji-River Local Government Areas of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Onchocerciasis among the inhabitants of Awgu and Oji River Local Government Areas from October 2012 to March 2013. Simple random sampling method was used to select three communities in each Local Government Area. The prevalence of O. volvulusinfection was determined by microscopic examination of skin snip samples for O. volvulus microfilaria. The subjects were selected from the communities by systematic random sampling method. Seven hundred and eighty six samples were collected and 250 (31.38%) were positive. Two hundred and ninety-five (295) individuals were sampled in Awgu Local Government Area and 36 (12.20%) of them were positive. In Oji River Local Government Area, 491 individuals were sampled and 214 (43.58%) were positive for O. volvulus. Higher prevalence of Onchocerciasis was observed in males {108(48.43%)} compared to females {106(39.55%)} in Oji river Local Government Area. In Awgu Local Government Area, females had a higher prevalence of 19 (13.38%) as against 17 (11.11%) by the males. The highest prevalence of onchocerciasis was seen among the age group 41-50 years in both Local Government Areas. Farmers had the highest prevalence in both Awgu (15.49%) and Oji River (50.43%) Local Government Areas. The highest prevalence was seen among the illiterates in Awgu (16.87%) and Oji River (54.66%) Local Government Areas. Despite efforts aimed at controlling Onchocerciasis infection in the two Local Government Areas of Enugu state, the infection is still hypoendemic (<40%) in Awgu and mesoendemic (>40% but less than <60%) in Oji River Local Government Area.