Prevalence Of Lymphatic Filariasis In Three Villages In Kano State, Nigeria

Abstract

The Nigeria Lymphatic Filariasis Elimination Programme (NLFEP) has set 2015 to eliminate the disease in the country. The success of this programme depends on identifying and treating endemic communities. Unfortunately, information on the distribution and nature of the disease from many parts of the country is lacking. This study aims at determining the distribution and nature of the disease in three selected villages in Kano State, Nigeria. Based on the results of an earlier survey of elephantiasis in 44 local government areas (LGAs) of Kano State, three villages; Marke, Gunduwa and Buda from DawakinTofa, Gabasawa and Garko LGAs respectively were selected for this study. A house-to-house census was undertaken to obtain the demographic information of the selected villages. The prevalence of the disease was determined by clinical and parasitological examinations. The clinical examination identified symptoms of adenolymphangitis (ADL), hydrocoeles and elephantiasis among the population of three villages. The Thick Blood Film (TBF) method was used to screen volunteers for the presence of Wuchereria bancrofti. The results showed that 43(1.5%) of the 2790 males examined had hydrocoele. The prevalence increased with age reaching a peak in the 60 69 year age group before it drops at 70+ year age group. However, the difference in prevalence between the age groups at P 0.05) between hydrocoele and the presence of W. bancrofti microfilaria in the villages. The overall prevalence for the three villages is 58(1.1%). Lymphatic filariasis is endemic in the three villages which is above the 1% level of endemicity recommended for selecting endemic communities for the mass drug administration (MDA) to eradicate the disease.