Effect of ivermectin treatment on microfilaria load in a rural community in Edo State of Nigeria

A survey to assess the effect of ivermectin on the level of Onchocerca volvulus micro filarial was undertaken in Ekpan, a rural community within the rainforest zone of S.W. Nigeria. The village which has a population of 529 people had received ivermectin for three consecutive years by 1998. Of his population, 147 individuals consented to be examined for clinical manifestations of the disease and skin-snipped for microfilariae. The prevalence of microfilariae was 42.2% and the clinical manifestations in descending order of prevalence were, nodules, 38.7%, LS, 28.5%, itching, 14.9%, elephant skin, 4.1% and hanging groin, 2.7% Intensity of infection reduced as the frequency of ivermectin intake increased while endemicity of the disease improved from hyper-endemic to meso-endemic. Aggressive but persuasive health education is still recommended to encourage defaulters to accept the drug, in order to reduce the current high prevalence rate and to achieve the overall objective of the control programme.The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol 24 2003: 3-