Human onchocerciasis in the lower Jos Plateau, Central Nigeria: the prevalence, geographical distribution and epidemiology in Akwanga and Lafia Local Government Areas

Abstract

An investigation of human infection with Onchocerca volvulus and the resulting clinical disease was carried out for the Nigerian National Onchocerciasis Control Programme between July and August 1949. The survey covered 10·6% of the rural population in 41 savanna villages of central Nigeria. Of the 8451 self-selected individuals examined, 900 (10·6%) had skin microfilariae (Mf). There were differences between villages in both endemicity and intensity of infection, but in general the number of both Mf carriers and cases of clinical onchocerciasis increased with age. The disease in the Mf carriers showed as blindness (0·8%), onchocercal nodules (0·6%), leopard skin (1·6%) and pruritis (2·8%). Of 35 persons with lymphatic complications, 19 had hanging groin, 10 had elephantiasis and six had hydrocoele. Onchocerciasis was mesoendemic in the rocky northern escarpments, and became hypoendemic and sporadic in the southern uplands of sedimentary geological origin.