Uttah E C
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Nigeria.
J Vector Borne Dis. 2011 Jun;48(2):78-84.
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The study was aimed at determining the prevalence and intensity of Wuchereria bancrofti microfilaraemia in a high altitude region of south-eastern Nigeria, and ascertaining the prevalence of clinical signs and symptoms associated with the filarial infections.
Thick smear of 50 μl finger-prick blood collected at night between 2200 and 0200 hrs from consenting persons were stained with Giemsa and examined microscopically in a cross-sectional study. Consenting individuals were examined for various gradations of hydrocele, limb and scrotal elephantiasis by qualified medical personnel.
The prevalence of W. bancrofti microfilaraemia was 4.3%, highest in the older people but comparable in both sexes. The overall micro filarial (mf) geometric mean intensity (GMI) among mf positive individuals was 123 mf/ml of blood (138 mf/ml for males and 110 mf/ml of blood for females); and rose significantly with increasing age (one-way analysis of variance; p <0.001). Prevalence of clinical manifestations was: hydrocele (7.1%), scrotal elephantiasis (4%), and limb elephantiasis (6%). The mf GMI was significantly higher among those without hydrocele or limb elephantiasis than among those with the clinical manifestations (t-test; p <0.05 for both tests); the opposite was the case for scrotal elephantiasis, (t-test; p <0.01).
Filariasis is endemic in the high altitude region of south-eastern Nigeria. The chronic clinical manifestations observed there underscore the need for urgent combination therapy interventions.
本研究旨在确定尼日利亚东南部高海拔地区班氏吴策线虫微丝蚴血症的患病率和强度，并确定与丝虫感染相关的临床体征和症状的患病率。
在一项横断面研究中，于夜间22:00至02:00采集50μl同意参与研究人员的手指针刺血，制成厚涂片，用吉姆萨染色后进行显微镜检查。合格的医务人员对同意参与研究的个体进行各种程度的鞘膜积液、肢体和阴囊象皮肿检查。
班氏吴策线虫微丝蚴血症的患病率为4.3%，老年人中最高，男女患病率相当。微丝蚴阳性个体的总体微丝蚴几何平均强度（GMI）为每毫升血液123条微丝蚴（男性为138条/毫升，女性为110条/毫升）；且随年龄增长显著上升（单因素方差分析；p<0.001）。临床表现的患病率为：鞘膜积液（7.1%）、阴囊象皮肿（4%）和肢体象皮肿（6%）。无鞘膜积液或肢体象皮肿者的微丝蚴GMI显著高于有临床表现者（t检验；两项检验p均<0.05）；阴囊象皮肿情况则相反（t检验；p<0.01）。
丝虫病在尼日利亚东南部高海拔地区为地方病。在该地区观察到的慢性临床表现凸显了迫切需要采取联合治疗干预措施。
