The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #66960

David D Blaney, MD, Rollins School of Public Health, International Health Department, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, 404-929-9167, dblaneymd@att.net, Frank O Richards, MD, The Carter Center, One Copenhill, Atlanta, GA 30307, and James Setzer, MPH, Abt Associates Inc., 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 600, Bethesda, MD 20814.

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) affects an estimated 128 million people worldwide; Nigeria bears the greatest burden in Africa with an estimated 22 million people infected. Many areas of Nigeria are also co-endemic for onchocerciasis. Annual ivermectin treatment has been implemented for as long as ten years in a number of villages in Plateau and Nasarawa states as a part of Nigeria’s onchocerciasis control program. The immunochromatographic card test (ICT) for Wuchereria bancrofti filarial circulating antigen has been used in rapid mapping surveys for lymphatic filariasis in 144 villages in these states as well. Regression analysis of 2863 individuals revealed significantly lower rates of positive filarial antigen tests in persons living in communities that had been inncluded in a treatment program that delivered annual ivermectin treatments for onchocerciasis, with a risk ratio for a positive ICT test of 0.897 per annual treatment received after controlling for confounders. Although the ICT test has been recommended by WHO for use in rapid screening for filariasis, this analysis suggests that ICT could also be used to monitor progress in filariasis elimination programs as well, and demonstrates a clear effect of ivermectin treatments upon the population prevalence of lymphatic filariasis.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to:
• Recognize the impact of lymphatic filariasis in Nigeria
• Describe the impact of onchocerciasis treatment programs on lymphatic filariasis
• Discuss the potential of ICT test cards for monitoring filariasis elimination programs

Keywords: International Public Health, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.