Onchocerciasis in the Benue State of Nigeria

Abstract

Between December 1979 and July 1980, a survey of the prevalence of onchocerciasis was carried out among the Tivs in the Kwande Local Government area of Benue State. Skin snips were taken from 372 people who were also inspected for the presence of skin nodules. Skin snips of 61, 72, and 71% of the people examined at Kuhe, Manor and Gube, respectively, showed Onchocerca volvulus microfilariae. The proportion of infected people increased with age, reaching a peak in the age group 31–40 years. Of the infected people 11·2% were blind; a higher proportion of infected males were blind compared with infected females. A greater proportion of infected males than females also had onchocercal nodules.