ISSN 2169-3048
International Journal of Biochemistry and Biotechnology ISSN 2169-3048 Vol. 8 (12), pp. 001-004, December, 2019. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Detection of microfilariae with counting chamber technique in some Nigerian rural communities
O. M. Agbolade1, D. O. Akinboye2
1Department Of Biological Sciences,Olabisi Onabanjo University, P.M.B. 2002, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.
2Department Of Zoology, University Of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Accepted 14 September, 2019
Abstract
The conventional stained thick smear technique (TS) has innate possibility of underestimation of microfilariae (mf) in microfilaraemic subjects. The usability of counting chamber (CC) technique in the detection of mf was determined in three Nigerian rural communities where Loa loa and Mansonella perstans are endemic. Blood samples were collected by finger-pricking method from 612 subjects (334 males, 278 females), between February 1996 and July 1998. Each blood sample was examined for mf using TS or/and CC technique(s). CC technique had statistically higher sensitivity (79.3%) than TS technique (39.1%). For both techniques, the microfilarial range was 1 to 20 mf/50 l of blood. There was no statistically significant differences between the microfilarial geometric mean intensities with both techniques.
Key words: Loa loa, Mansonella perstans, microfilaraemia detection, counting chamber technique, Nigeria.