Determination the Prevalence of Onchocerca volvulus Infection

Huda Ahmed,B.SC.in Medical Parasitology,Dr.Hanan Mohamed is associate professor of Parasitology,National Public Health laboratory,with special training in Research Methodology,Biostatistics,Molecular Biology,Immunology Biosafety and Biosecurity,Implementation Research. Training of Medical Lab students and supervised the work of post-graduate degree.

Onchocerciasis is a disease causes by a worm called O.volvulus causes inflammation within the eye leading to damage to critical structures and frequently to permanent blindness. This study was carried out during May 2013 in Safawah village which located on Atbara River in Eastern Sudan borders with Ethiopia and northern the limit of Galabat focus. The area suspected to human Onchocerciasis due the potential breeding site, the Black flies (Simulium damnosum) were detected in the area after mapping of the Atbara River by the National Onchocerciasis Control Program team in 2008. The study was carried out to investigate Onchocerca volvulus infection using Clinical examination, Direct Skin Snip biopsy and blood sera using ELISA technique. The results showed no Microfilaria was detected in 134 individual and onchocdermatitis were found in 16 (11.6%) individual. No IgG4 to OV16 were detected in blood samples collected from 384 individuals. From this study no transmission of Onchocerca volvulus infection in the village; this will be confirmed by analysis of the skin snip by PCR techniques and other studies are needed to elucidate the role of black flies in breeding sites.