Distribution of the blinding and nonblinding strains of Onchocerca volvulus in Nigeria

Onchocerciasis remains an important public health problem throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria is the country whose population is most afflicted by onchocerciasis; however, little is known concerning the epidemiology of onchocerciasis in this country. Previous studies demonstrated that onchocerciasis in West Africa exists in two forms, which differ in their clinical and epidemiologic characteristics. This is believed to be due to the existence of 2 strains of Onchocerca volvulus, the causative agent of onchocerciasis. The O-150 polymerase chain reaction has been developed to differentiate these 2 strains, and this method has been used to map the distribution of the blinding and nonblinding strains of O. volvulus in Nigeria. The strain distribution is consistent with what is known concerning the ecology and epidemiology of onchocerciasis in this country. The results also suggest that migration may be affecting the historic distribution of the 2 strains of the parasite in Nigeria.