Distribution and Prevalence of Human Onchocerciasis in Ardo-kola and Yorro Local Government Areas, Taraba State, Nigeria

Onchocerciasis is a chronic parasitic disease caused by the filarial nematode; Onchocerca volvulus and is transmitted by different species of blackflies. A study was carried out to assess the prevalence and distribution of human Onchocerciasis in Gonta, Shompa, Voding, Kasakuru and Kwanti-Nyavo communities of Ardo-kola and Yorro Local Government areas of Taraba State, Nigeria. Standard parasitological techniques of skin snip were used to collect data. A total of five hundred persons were examined comprising of 275(55.0%) males and 225(45.0%) females. Of these, 187(37.4%) were infected with Onchocerca volvulus. The male subjects are more infected (45.5%) than their female counterparts (27.5%) with statistically Significant difference in infection ( 2 = 16.934, P = 0.000). Age-specific prevalence of infection was recorded in all age groups displaying a progressive increase with increase in age. Age group 41-50 shows the highest prevalence of infection 32(45.1%), Chi square analysis shows no significant difference in infection among age groups ( 2 = 3.440, P= 0.633). Occupational-related infection showed that farmers appeared to be more infected (50.0%) followed by civil servants (38.2%) but without significant difference in infection among occupations ( 2 = 2.397, P=0.494). Educational-related infection revealed that non-formal education appeared to be more infected (56.0%) followed by Tertiary education (37.7%) without any significant difference in infection ( 2 = 4.350; P = 0.226). The risk of becoming blind and other clinical manifestations is eminent due to lack of access to mass drugs administration (MDA) in the study areas. Here is a case of re-emergence of Onchocerciasis that demand urgent attention.