BANCROFTIAN FILARIASIS IN THE KASSENA-NANKANA DISTRICT OF THE UPPER EAST REGION OF GHANA - A PRELIMINARY-STUDY

A filariasis prevalence survey was conducted in April 1992 in the Sout hern sector of the Kassena Nankana District which was the site of the Ghana Vitamin A Supplementation morbidity trial. In all, 106 compounds from five different communities were randomly selected from the vitam in A trial database. All resident compound members of 10 years and abo ve were clinically examined and blood was taken for thick films betwee n 2100 and 0200 hours. Haemoglobin levels were also measured. All the blood slides were examined by the investigators in Navrongo. Two refer ence laboratories examined 10% each of the slides for quality control. In all, 531 people were examined, 247 males and 284 females. The resu lts showed an overall microfilaraemia rate of 41.1% (95% CI 36.9-45.3% ). The only species identified was Wuchereria bancrofti. The most impo rtant clinical manifestation was hydrocele, 30.8% of males (95% CI 25- 36.6%); followed by elephantiasis of the leg, 3.6% of the study popula tion (95% CI 2.0-5.2%). The mean haemoglobin level of the population w as 12.4 g dl(-1). There were no significant differences between the co mmunities in clinical or parasitological findings.