Japanese Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Online ISSN : 2186-1811
Print ISSN : 0304-2146
ISSN-L : 0304-2146
NIGERIAN ONCHOCERCIASIS : EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
BERTRAM E. B. NWOKEKUNINORI SHIWAKUHIROSHI TAKAHASHI
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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1991 Volume 19 Issue 2 Pages 191-201

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Abstract

Onchocerciasis is a widespread filarial disease in Nigeria that produces grave socio-economic effects. The great majority of the communities are mesoendemic for onchocerciasis while only few are hyperendemic especially in the savanna zone. Sexrelated infection depends on the degree of endemicity while age-infection increases gradually with advancing age. Visible and palpable nodules are more abundant around the pelvic region. The nodules are countered more in the rainforest zone even when microfilarial density (MFD) is moderate, while the nodules are less numerous in the savanna form with high MFD. The microfilariae in concert with host's immune response precipitate various skin lesions. The resulting pruritus, scratching and itching are generalized in the rainforest and localized in the savanna. In the eye, various ocular lesions are associated with the death of microfilariae. There is high incidence of eye lesion in the savanna zone than in the rainforest zone, especially the anterior lesions. The epidemiological picture presented by onchocerciasis in Nigeria is the summation of a complex array of contributing factors, both intrinsic to the microfilariae and resulting from the host-immune response, bioclimatic factors and vector species complex.

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