Authors : I.A.A. Ejima, I.M. Okolo, C. Johnson and M.I. Ejima
Abstract: A cross sectional survey was carried out to determine the prevalence and intensity of Dacunculus medinensis infection among the households in Idah and Ibaji Local Government Areas (LGAs), Kogi State, Nigeria. The results of parasitological examination of 4,426 and 5,161 subjects in Idah and Ibaji LGAs, respectively for active infection gave 0% prevalent rate in either of the two LGAs. However, the responses to the questionnaires on retrospective study of cases of dracunculiasis in the areas for the past one decade showed low prevalent rates both in Idah and Ibaji LGAs. Only one positive case (0.95) of the disease was recorded in two villages, viz.; Ugwoda and Ichekene in Idah LGA between 1990 and 1998 while four positive cases (3.6%) were recorded in only Odogwu village of Ibaji LGA within the same period (1990-98). The study also showed that the inhabitants were predominantly farmers (63.2, 52.6% Idah and Ibaji LGAs, respectively). Idah community depends mainly on River Niger (42.1%) and River Inachalo (57.9%) for their domestic use whereas Ibaji community depends on Rivers Otta (31.6%), River Ogodomu (42.1%) and River Otto (26.3%) all of which are tributaries to the River Niger. These water bodies were sampled for Cyclops species and it was only one pond in Odogwu village that was positive and two individuals of Thermocylops nigerianus were collected. The low prevalence of dracunculiasis suggests that the disease is gradually and naturally being eradicated from the two LGAs even without any observable planned intervention. However, further researches into the Suburbs and interior villages are recommended in case of recrudescence of this debilitating disease.
I.A.A. Ejima, I.M. Okolo, C. Johnson and M.I. Ejima, 2013. Dracunculus medinensis Infection among Households in Idah and Ibaji Local Government Areas, Kogi State, Nigeria. International Journal of Molecular Medicine and Advance Sciences, 9: 14-18.