Current Status of Lymphatic Filariasis in Three Selected Communities in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Current status of lymphatic filariasis in three selected communities in Sagbama LGA Bayelsa State, Nigeria was conducted between July and October, 2019. Descriptive Cross-Sectional study was carried out to determine LF prevalence, microfilaria density and W. bancrofti in mosquitoes. Blood samples were collected at night through vein puncture and examined using Giesma staining and Knott concentration techniques. Indoor resting mosquitoes were collected using pyrethrum spray technique and dissected for filarial worms. Out of 274 participants 37(13.5%) were infected of LF, Adagbabiri had the highest prevalence of 21(21.4%) followed by Sagbama 11(12.6%) and 5(5.6%) in Tungbabiri. The females were more infected than males, 22(59.5%) and 15(40.5%) respectively, there was no significant difference (P>0.05) between sex. The highest prevalence of 19.4% were recorded in ages 40-49yrs and least prevalence of 5.3% in 10-19yrs. Low microfilaria density 0.08,0.04 and 0.08 were observed among age groups, 0.10 and 0.20 between sex across 3 communities. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) of mean filarial density among age groups and sex. Participants knowledge on LF was very low but a good perception on socio economic consequences of LF was recorded across the three communities. No filaria larvae was discovered in mosquitoes of Anopheles gambiae and Culex quniquifasciatus dissected. In conclusion, although low prevalence was observed. Therefore, there is need for control programs and surveillance of LF in Sagbama Local Government Area.