Evaluation of different Onchocerciass manifestation by age and gender among residents in selected endemic villages in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

Aspects of human infection with Onchocerca volvulus was investigated in 9 villages in Okigwe LGA of Imo State, Nigeria between January 2010 and December 2011. The objectives were to compare the prevalence of different manifestations of Onchocerciasis according to gender and age, with view to determine if there had been a change in prevalence of Onchocerciasis among residents of some communities in Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State. A cross sectional survey method was adopted for the study, blood free skin snips were collected from randomly selected consenting adults aged 5-62 years. Palpation for mobile subcutaneous lumps and clinical manifestation were observed among 960 persons comprising 511 males and 449 females. The commonest lesions observed were poor vision 17 %, nodules 15 %, leopard skin 20 %, lizard skin 15 %, and hanging groin 3 %. Musculo-skeletal pain (MSP) was recorded as one of the major complaints by 30 % of the subjects. The result showed that Onchocerciasis clinical manifestations are still prevalent, however nodules prevalence reduced among the sampled population (69.8 %)