Abstract
Background: Onchocerciasis is a chronic disease caused by filarial worm, maintained in the communities through the black flies that breed in rapid fast flowing rivers. The disease triggers enormous sufferings and compromise community and individual socio-economic opportunities. Approximately 37 million people are afflicted by onchocerciasis and 46,000 new cases of blindness are reported each year in the hyper-mesoendemic communities. Study objective was assessing interruption of transmission after over 20 years of mass drug administration in the area.
Highlights
Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus, a filarial nematode transmitted by black flies (Simulium sp.) The clinical expression of the disease is characterized by dermatologic and ocular manifestations namely; itching, pruritis, dermatitis, depigmentation, pre-matured skin atrophy, discoloration, and ocular lesions in the anterior and posterior segments of the eye
It is for this reason that, parasite onchocerca volvulus is known to be imported from the West Africa to Americas through the slave trade [3] and spread further through migration [3]
Eleven communities in four different districts of the Ruvuma region were examined in order to identify suitable individuals for the study (Table 1); 176 individuals from four villages in Mbinga district, with 1.1% (2/176) mff positive, 166 individuals from two villages in Namtumbo district with 12.0% (20/166) mff positive, whereas the prevalence of microfilaridermia in 347 individuals from four villages in the Songea rural district was 8.9% (31/347) and 52 individuals in a single village in the Songea urban district were all mff negative
Summary
Onchocerciasis is a parasitic disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus, a filarial nematode transmitted by black flies (Simulium sp.) The clinical expression of the disease is characterized by dermatologic and ocular manifestations namely; itching, pruritis, dermatitis, depigmentation, pre-matured skin atrophy, discoloration, and ocular lesions in the anterior and posterior segments of the eye. The disease is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and phylogenetdesowitzically proved to have relationship between African Old World and America New world It is for this reason that, parasite onchocerca volvulus is known to be imported from the West Africa to Americas through the slave trade [3] and spread further through migration [3]. The ocular and dermatological morbidities together with the abandoned of individuals from the very fertile land in West Africa triggered the international organizations such as WHO to plan for control programme which was named Onchocerca control programme (OCP) in some 11 countries of West Africa This was the area where the savannah strain of parasite causing blindness [5,6] are residing. Study objective was assessing interruption of transmission after over 20 years of mass drug administration in the area
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
