Abstract:
Background: - Onchocerciasis is a recognized public health threat caused by the filarial
nematode Onchocerca volvulus. The disease is endemic in Africa, Latin America, and Yemen.
Recent estimate indicate that at least 37 million people remain infected, mostly in Africa. In
Ethiopia about 10 million people are at risk of infection and 3 million people are estimated to be
affected by the disease. A large and variable spectrum of clinical disease can be seen but skin
disease and eye lesions induced by inflammatory reactions to migrating larvae (microfilaria) are
the major manifestations.
Objective:-The aim of the study was to assess Epidemiology of Onchocerciasis in Gilgel Ghibe
village, Kersa district, Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods:-. A Community based cross sectional study design was involving 206 study
participants identified by systematic sampling, from March to April, 2014. By using prestructured questionnaire, parasitological and clinical data were collected. Two Skin snips were
taken from individuals and examined microscopically .All sampled individuals were examined
for presence/absence of clinical manifestations. Finally the data was analyzed by using
statistical packages for descriptive and inferential statistics.
Result: - Of the 206 people examined, the prevalence of the disease was 12.1%, being 13.5% in
females and 10.5% in males. Having microfilaria in skin snip was strongly associated with
farming activity (AOR=5.16, P=0.005). Overall intensity of microfilaria in total microfilaria
positive individuals was 55.1 per mg of skin snip. The overall Community Microfilarial Load
(CMFL) was 8.94 mf/skin snip. Proportion of OSD in Communities was 11(15.7%), 8(12.2%)
and 6(8.6%) in Akko, Carre and Agnyhoo zones respectively. Intensive itching 79(38.3%)
followed by skin rashes 54(26.2%) were the most common clinical manifestations in this study
area. Intensive itching is strongly associated with that of Exposure to river (AOR=2.14, P=0.01).
Conclusion: - Based on these results these communities were regarded as hypoendemic for
Onchocerciasis.
Recommendation: Treatment coverage should be improved and sustained until the level of
microfilaria will be reduced drastically to a level that the disease would no longer be a public
health problem
