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