Adamawa State University Journal of Scientific Research ISSN: 2251-0702 (P) Volume 6 Number 2, August, 2018; Article no. ADSUJSR 0602018 http://www.adsujsr.com Distribution and Prevalence of Human Onchocerciasis in Ardo-Kola and Yorro Local Government Areas, Taraba State, Nigeria 1* 2 1 2 1 3 Danladi, T ., Elkanah, S. O ., Wahedi, J. A ., Elkanah, D. S ., Elihu, A ., Akafyi, D.E . 1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Adamawa State University (ADSU), P.M.B. 25, Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria. 2Parasitology and Public Health Unit, Department of Biological Sciences, Taraba State University, P.M.B. 1167, Jalingo, Taraba State. 3Nigeria Institute of Leather and Science Technology Zaria, Kaduna State. Contact: [email protected] Phone: +2348037725303 Abstract Onchocerciasis is a chronic parasitic disease caused by the filarial nematode; Onchocerca volvulus and is transmitted by different species of blackflies. A study was carried out to assess the prevalence and distribution of human Onchocerciasis in Gonta, Shompa, Voding, Kasakuru and Kwanti-Nyavo communities of Ardo-kola and Yorro Local Government areas of Taraba State, Nigeria. Standard parasitological techniques of skin snip were used to collect data. A total of five hundred persons were examined comprising of 275(55.0%) males and 225(45.0%) females. Of these, 187(37.4%) were infected with Onchocerca volvulus. The male subjects are more infected (45.5%) than their female counterparts (27.5%) with statistically Significant difference in infection (2= 16.934, P = 0.000). Age-specific prevalence of infection was recorded in all age groups displaying a progressive increase with increase in age. Age group 41-50 shows the highest prevalence of infection 32(45.1%), Chi square analysis shows no significant difference in infection among age groups (2= 3.440, P= 0.633). Occupational-related infection showed that farmers appeared to be more infected (50.0%) followed by civil servants (38.2%) but without significant difference in infection among occupations (2= 2.397, P=0.494). Educational-related infection revealed that non-formal education appeared to be more infected (56.0%) followed by Tertiary education (37.7%) without any significant difference in infection (2= 4.350; P = 0.226). The risk of becoming blind and other clinical manifestations is eminent due to lack of access to mass drugs administration (MDA) in the study areas. Here is a case of re-emergence of Onchocerciasis that demand urgent attention. Keywords: Onchocerciasis; Microfilaria; filarial nematode; blackflies; Taraba State; Nigeria. Introduction The relationship between man and his Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is a chronic environment is symbiotic. Although, it is parasitic disease caused by the filarial nematode generally believed that the environment influences Onchocerca volvulus (O. volvulus), which can live human activities, these activities in turn influence in the human body for about 11-16 years (Cook the nature of the environment. Physical, social and and Zumla, 2003). It is transmitted through the economic factors are very important factors that bite of the blood sucking simulium black flies determine the severity of Onchocerciasis in any which breeds in fast-flowing rivers. The disease given society. The breeding condition for the most adverse effect is blindness and thus the name disease vector, the nature of social and economic river blindness (WHO, 2009). activities determines the level of contact with the fly and therefore the intensity of bites received by Today, an estimated 18 million people are an individual at any point in time (Hunter, 1980). infected with river blindness worldwide, with Onchocerciasis is a disease of rural communities. about 270,000 persons permanently blinded and Studies have shown that Onchocerciasis is more another 500,000 having severe visual impairment. common among farmers, fishermen, hunters, The disease is thus a major leading cause of nomads and others who are engaged in outdoor blindness in the world; fourth after cataract, activities that bring them inconstant contact with glaucoma and trachoma (WHO, 2009). the simulium fly (Hunter, 1980). 222 Danladi et al., ADSUJSR, 6(2):222-229, August, 2018 Material and Methods Ethical approval Area of Study Before embarking on this research permission was Ardo-kola Local Government Area was created in sought from the local Government Chairman, the 1992. Its headquarters is in Sunkani. The Local Director, Primary Health Care (PHC) Department Government has an Area of 2,262 km2 and a and the District / community heads. population of 86,921 at the 2006 census, and by 2011, the Local Government reported the Pre-survey Contact and Mobilization population to be 101,480 (NPC, 2011).It lies After obtaining clearance from the Chairmen and between latitude 8° 30`N to 9° 10` N and longitude Directors PHC, a pre-survey contact was carried 10° 45`E to 11° 25` E. The major tribes in the out to some selected communities of Ardo-kola Local Government Area are Kona, Mumuye, and Yorro local Government areas. During the Wurkun, Hausa/Fulani, Yandang while maize, visit, the village heads, primary Health Care guinea corn, ground nuts, beniseed and cassava workers, religious leaders was consulted and are produced by the inhabitants. mobilized. The purpose, scope and the benefit of the study was explained to them. Furthermore, the Yorro Local Government Area in Taraba State, corporation and assistance require was solicited Nigeria was created in 1991 and its headquarters for successful commencement of the study. in Pantisawa covering an area of 1,275 km2 and a population of 89,410 at the 2006 Census and by Sample Collection 2011, the Local Government reported the A sample size of 500 persons determined using population to be 103,890 (NPC, 2011). It lies 2 P1 P Z D between latitude 60°N and 8°N of the equator and N 2 where N= sample size, 2 longitude 10°E of Greenwich Meridian. The E people here are Mumuye predominantly and they Zα/2=1.96, P= assumed prevalence in the areas are farmers and hunters. Yam, ground nuts, maize, (50%), D= design effect which is 1 for random cassava, rice, and Bambara nuts are the products sampling and E= precision error which is 10% of of their farms, while goats, sheep, and fowls are the assumed prevalence (Suresh and the animals reared in this area.The study was Chendrashekera, 2012) was used for the study. A carried out in some selected areas of Ardo-kola total of three hundred and two hundred person and Yorro Local Government Areas of Taraba comprising of male and female of various age State suspected to be endemic for Onchocerciasis. categories were examine from Ardo-Kola and Yorro local Government Area respectively. Ardo-kola and Yorro falls within the Sudan savannah ecological zone of Nigeria with well- Parasitological technique defined season (rainy and dry). Average rainfall is Parasitological examination involves obtaining 180mm and temperature ranges from 28°c -38°c skin snip from wrist or neck area of individual and with an annual average of 27°c. The hottest observing the snip under microscope for presence months are March and April reading the of microfilaria. Skin snips was obtained by first temperature of 37°c -38°c respectively? The cleaning skin using spirit swab and allows the area physical relief, surrounded most of the lands in to dry; the sterile needle was then inserted almost the areas; the ranges do not exceed 1000m in horizontally lifting with a small piece of skin, the height, with Gongo River which had its sources needle was then raised to cut off the skin with a from the mountains. sterile surgical blade which was then placed on the grease free slide. A drop of physiological The temperature and rainfall in area accounts for saline was added to the skin on the slide and the vegetation cover, which are short tress and examined microscopically for microfilariae of grasses that are sparsely distributed. The Onchocerca volvulus using ×10 objective lens. commonest trees in the areas include: shear butter, When samples are positive, microfilariae was seen locust bean, Mahogany and baobab tree (TADP, wriggling in the saline. Thus, microfilaria without 2000). The soils are purely sand-clay. sheath and caudal nuclei was classified as Onchocerca volvulus (Cheesbrough, 2005). 223 Danladi et al., ADSUJSR, 6(2):222-229, August, 2018 Statistical Analysis investigated for Onchocerciasis using Rapid The Statistical Package for Social Sciences Assessment method and Standard Parasitological (SPSS) version 20.0 was used. Descriptive Technique for diagnosis. Skin snips samples of statistics were used in presentation of data in 500 persons were examined microscopically for tabula form while Chi Square test (×2) was used to microfolaria of O.volvulus. Of these, 187/ compare the prevalence of Onchocerciasis among 500(37.4%) were positive for O.volvulus (Table gender, age groups, and occupational groups. P- 1). The highest prevalence was recorded among values less than 0.05 were considered as people of Shompa community (42.0%), followed statistically Significant. by Gonta(41.0%) then Kwanti-Nyavo (40%). Kasakuru community was the least with 30.0% Results and Discussion infection rate. Chi square analysis did not show Community Prevalence of Onchocerciasis significant difference in infection among the Five communities in Ardo-kola and Yorro local communities surveyed (2 =4.579, P=0.333). Government Areas of Taraba State were Table 1: Prevalence of O. volvulus Microfilaria based on Communities of Ardo-kola and Yorro Local Government Areas, Taraba State. Communities No. Examined No. Positive (%) Gonta 100 14(41.0) Shompa 100 42(42.0) Voding 100 34(34.0) Kasakuru 100 30(30.0) Kwanti-Nyavo 100 40(40.0) Total 500 187(37.4) Keys: No= Number, (%) =Percentage, (P>0.005) = No statistically significant; 2 = 4.579, P>0.005. Table 2 shows the prevalence of O.volvulus in Yorro Local Government Area, 83/200(41.5%) infection based on Local Government Areas.