Urge, Geme (2006) Epidemiological and Parasitological Study of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic Filariasis in Anfilo Woreda, Western Wellega. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
The World Health Organization estimates that 123 million people live in Africa, central and South America and Yemen where onchocerciasis (river blindness) is endemic and that 17.7 million people are infected with Onchocerca volvulus, the parasitic helminth that causes this disease. Of these, approximately 270,000 are blind and 500,000 have severe visual impairment. The existence of onchocerciasis in Ethiopia was known since 1939 and currently it is estimated that 10 million Ethiopians are at risk of onchocerciasis and 1.4 million are infected. Lymphatic filariasis is a painful and profoundly disfiguring disease which has major social and economic impacts on the communities residing in endemic regions. The data concerning Wuchereria bancrofti in Ethiopia is very limited with some data showing the existence of the parasite in the Gambella Regional state of the country. Currently World Health Organization and World Bank have an African Program for Onchocerciasis Control and a global program for elimination of lymphatic filariasis. Countries having accurate data on these diseases have benefited from these control and elimination programs. A prior requirement for the control and elimination program is adequate information on the prevalence and distribution of these diseases in the target societies. To get some preliminary information on an epidemiological and parasitological study was conducted in Anfilo Woreda of West Wellega zone of Oromia region to determine the prevalence and distribution of Onchocerciasis and Lymphatic filariasis during one month period: August 15 to September 15 2005. The study included 1114 inhabitants of the Woreda from four Kebeles, namely Dollea, Shebel, Waba and Yelli. Skin snips and night blood samples were collected from all study subjects and parasitological tests were undertaken on all samples. Onchocerciasis was found in all study areas with an overall prevalence of 74.8%. The highest mf carrier rate was detected in study subjects from Yelli Kebele (87.6%) and the lowest prevalenceof mf carrier rate was found in study subjects from Dollea Kebele (62.6%). The microfilariae density ranged from 0.00 to 711.00 per mg of skin snip with a mean density of 23.9 mf per mg of skin snip. The Community Microfilarial Load (CMFL), which is the geometric mean number of microfilariae per skin snip in adults aged > 20 years (including those with negative counts), in the community was 19.6. The overall prevalence of Onchocercal Skin Disease (OSD) was found to be 26.4%. OSD was more prevalent in males (32.4%) than in females (20.8%). The new prevalence of lymphatic filariasis (LF) was found to be 7.5%. Individuals found positive for LF were from Waba Kebele which is located on the boarder with Gambella Regional State. The blood microfilarial count ranged from 0.00 to 320 mf per ml blood. Onchoccerciasis was found to be hyperendemic to Anfilo Woreda and it significantly affects the health of the community residing in the area. Onchocercal skin disease was found to affect considerable number of population. Therefore, the currently commenced community directed treatment with ivermectin should be enhanced. In addition to this, other intervention methods should be included. Moreover, there should also be health education on transmission of the disease and control of vector.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > QR Microbiology Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR180 Immunology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Emmanuel Ndorimana |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Jul 2018 09:11 |
| Last Modified: | 13 Jul 2018 09:11 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/7398 |
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