Abstract:
Clinical, parasitological and serological diagnostic methods were compared for definitive diagnosis of human onchocerclasis in three endemic communities of Nkologu, Ukpabi and Obimo; located at differing distances from the bank of Adada river in Nsukka senatorial zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. The results revealed that 43.98%, 2.78%, 57.60% and 76.55% of the total number of volunteers tested were positive by most common and rare clinical symptoms, skin biopsy and Enzyme-linded immunosorbent assay (ELISA) respectively. Of those seropositive by ELISA and skin biopsy respectively, displayed onchocercal nodules either on the head, trunk, groin, laps or near the knee. However, 96.76% of those with nodules had microfilariae in their skin. the results further showed that the incidence of onchocerciasis and worm burden in the three communities vary inversely with their respective distances from the river. Considering the relative significance of these methods in the diagnosis of onchocerciasis, we recommend the use of a combination of the most common clinical manifestations, skin biopsy and ELISA in the diagnosis of onchocerciasis, at least for epidemiological studies, until a single definitive diagnostic method is developed.
