HISTOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON Onchoceroa volvulus MICROFILARIAE AND THEIR PREVALENCE IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

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Date
1989
Authors
GALADIMA, MUSA
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Abstract
This study reveals foci of Onchocerciasis, and prevalence rates, as well as acid phosphatase staining patterns of 0. volvulus microfilariae. A survey of Onchocerciasis was carried out in 7 villages in Kachia local government area of Kaduna State, 2 villages in Chenchaga local government area of Niger State and 2 villages of Mariga local government areaof Niger State. Diagnosis was based on the presence of microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus in skin biopsies. The population sampled ranged from children of less than one year old to adults aged above 55 years. This disease is reported for the first time from Iburu, Makyali, Kurmin Idon, Kurmin Biri, and Akupal villages of Kachia local government and from Bari village of Chanchaga local government and Kaliko village of Mariga local government. The prevalence rates of 0. volvulus infection were as follows: 24.1% for Kwakuti; and 20.4% for Bari villages of Chanchaga local government area, 4.7% for Kaliko village and 4.8% for Zungeru Primary School children of Mariga local government area. Villages in Kachia local government area had the following prevalence rates: Iri (41%)f Kurmin Idon (35.3%), Doka (42.0%), Makyali (33.3%), Iburu (42.1%) Akupal (14.9$) and Kurmin Biri (33.9%). Sex did not have any significant effect on the prevalence in v i l l a g e s in Kachia local government area. The males in Chanchaga local government area were however about twice as infected as the females; r e s u l t s show that infection s t a r t s very early in l i f e in the areas investigated. A child of less than one year of age was found to he infected. Projected figures show that there are over 200,000 infected people in Kachia local government area with over 16,000 people "blind, and in Chanchaga local government area there are aboiit 115,000 infected people with over 4,300 people blind. Other clinical, aspects of the disease in the areas include dermatitis, depigmentation of the legs and Onchocercomata. Histochemical enzyme study, based on the demonstration of Acid-phosphatase activity in the microfilariae obtained from 7 of the savanna villages shows that the parasite Onchocerca volvulus is a complex. Two new types (Type XIV, Type XV) of the species complex as revealed by acid-phosphatase activity and seven p r e v i - ously described staining patterns (Types I, I I , I I I , IV, V, VI, and IX) are reported and summarised below: Type I (Anal pore-Excretory pore) 5 Type II (Anal pore-Excretory pore-Innenkoper) 5 Type I I I (Anal pore Innenkoper); Type IV (Anal pore only); Type V (Negative). Other staining patterns found were Type VI (Amphids only); Type IX (Excretory pore only); Type XIV(Innenkoper only) and Type XV (Anal pore Excretory pore and between excretory pore and Amphids). In 6 out of the 7 villages where microfilariae were stained for acid phosphatase activity, type IV was found to be the most common staining type. An exception was found in one of the savanna villages in which the forest type (V) was the commonest. The significance of the staining patterns in relation to the Epidemiology of Onchocerciasis is discussed.
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A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ZOOLOGY. DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA, NIGERIA.
Keywords
HISTOCHEMICAL,, STUDIES,, Onchoceroa,, volvulus,, ICROFILARIAE,, PREVALENCE,, NORTHERN NIGERIA
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