TITLE:
Bancroftiasis among the mumuye of Northeastern Nigeria: Parasitological and clinical studies in Northern Taraba State
AUTHORS:
Jacqueline A. Badaki, Oladele B. Akogun, Nobert B. Molta, Godwin Imandeh
KEYWORDS:
Wuchereria Bancrofti; Morbidity; Microfilaraemia; Mumuye; Northeast Nigeria
JOURNAL NAME:
Health,
Vol.5 No.1,
January
23,
2013
ABSTRACT: The study reports the prevalence of bancroftiasis in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Taraba State, Nigeria. Night blood samples collected from one thousand and thirty one individuals were stained with haematoxylin and examined microscopically for the presence of Wu-chereria bancrofti. The overall prevalence of infection in the study area was high (21.2%) but mean microfilaria densities were generally low. Statistically, prevalence rate differed significantly (χ2d.f.2 = 10.498; P χ2d.f.1 = 1.385; P > 0.05) between sexes. Infection also did not statistically differ between age groups (χ2d.f.5 = 13.219; P > 0.05) even though infection rate increased steadily with age and reaching a peak at the 40 - 49 year age group. Lymphoe-dema was the commonest (M = 12.4%, F = 19.2%) clinical manifestation of bancroftian morbidity encountered in the survey. Overall, the findings indicate that bancroftian filariasis is a public health problem in Taraba state and there is an urgent need to establish an elimination programme with a view of halting transmission in the area.