Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40773516›Full record

ArticlePLoS neglected tropical diseases2025

Recrudescence of transmission of onchocerciasis in some endemic communities in Kaduna State, Nigeria: What is the way forward?

Timothy O Olanrewaju, Felicia N C Enwezor, Luret A Lar, Michael A Igbe, Ramatu A Abdullahi, Monsuru A Adeleke, Oluwatosin B Adekeye, Elizabeth O Elhassan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Timothy O OlanrewajuNigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis (and Onchocerciasis) Research, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria.ORCID 0009-0004-1266-7766
Felicia N C EnwezorNigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis (and Onchocerciasis) Research, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Luret A LarDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Michael A IgbeFederal Ministry of Health, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria.
Ramatu A AbdullahiNigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis (and Onchocerciasis) Research, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Monsuru A AdelekeDepartment of Zoology, Faculty of Basic and Applied Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria.
Oluwatosin B AdekeyeDepartment of Psychiatry, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Elizabeth O ElhassanFreelance Consultant, Ungwan Rimi, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Funding

African Research Network for Neglected Tropical DiseasesBill and Melinda GatesCoalition for Operation Research on Neglected Tropical Diseases (COR-NTD)United States Agency for International Development
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOnchocerciasis caused by the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus and transmitted by Simulium damnosum s.l. remains a public health concern in Nigeria. Infestation of S. damnosum s.l. along rivers Gurara and Kaduna; and heavy intensity of O. volvulus infection in Kaduna were documented in 1956. Control of onchocerciasis in Kaduna started 1954 with larviciding using dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane reduced S. damnosum s.l. population by 94% in 1966. Diethylcarbamazine used for human treatment was discontinued due to toxicity. Kaduna State Ministry of Health and its partners built on this achievement; used annual mass administration of ivermectin consistently between 1989 and 2017 which led to interruption of onchocerciasis transmission in 2018. This study investigated possibility of recrudescence of onchocerciasis with the hypothesis that insecurity-induced migration could cause recrudescence of onchocerciasis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL

findingsSix out of the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kaduna State were selected for evaluation. Adult S. damnosum s.l. were captured across seven breeding sites using human landing collectors from July to October 2023. Pooled screen assays of 72 pools heads of black flies were conducted using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for O. volvulus detection. Dried blood samples from 3107 children aged 5-9 years were collected; with 1502 samples analysed using alkaline phosphatase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay due to financial constraints. Twenty pools of the 72 pools of heads (27.8%) of S. damnosum s.l. analysed were positive for O. volvulus in Kagarko and Kachia LGAs (> 1/2000 infective flies; 95% upper confidence limit 0.49) with qPCR prevalence of 0.32%. Two children from security compromised communities tested seropositive (prevalence 0.31%; 95% upper confidence limit 0.317). CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: The findings demonstrated ongoing onchocerciasis transmission in Kaduna despite the interruption in 2018. This calls for evaluation of the extent of recrudescence and identification of key drivers such as human migration, fly movement and insecurity.

Indexed as

Onchocerca volvulusOnchocerciasisSimuliidaeAnimalsChildChild, PreschoolEndemic DiseasesFemaleHumansInsect VectorsIvermectinMaleNigeriaIvermectin

Identifiers

PMID40773516
PMCPMC12331076

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.