The occurrence of loiasis, mansonellosis and wuchereriasis in the Jarawa River Valley, central Nigeria.

In a study to assess the status of filariasis in the Jarawa River Valley of the savanna area of Nigeria, 940 self-selected residents from 10 villages were examined between March 1984 and April 1987. Overall results showed 105 (11.2%) had microfilaraemia and/or clinical signs of filariasis. Sixty-four (6.8%) and 20 (2.1%) persons, respectively, were infected with Mansonella perstans and Loa loa microfilariae (mff). Four of the 28 villagers examined had Wuchereria bancrofti mff in their night blood samples whereas 17 (1.8%) of all residents surveyed had clinical filariasis mainly due to lympho-obstructive manifestations: hydrocele (n = 11, 64.7%); enlargement of the inguinal nodes (n = 8, 47.1%) and elephantiasis (n = 2, 11.8%).