Publication:

Exploratory study of filariasis lymphatic in non-endemic area in Benin: the case of Atlantic department

Background Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is caused by a microfilaria, Wuchereria bancrofti, transmitted mainly by mosquitoes: female Anopheles and Culex quinquefasciatus. In Benin from 2000 to 2016, a program of LF elimination implemented. In 2019 southern departments of country reported non-endemic, however some LF disease cases are sometimes founded in hospitals of this area. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are still cases of LF in these regions, even though they have been declared non-endemic.

Methods The study sample consisted of 107 subjects with elephantiasis of our area study (Atlantic department). All of them underwent to ultrasound exam at autonomous radiology center.

Results Our 107 subjects included 61 male and 46 female subjects with the minimum and maximum age are respectively 4 and 80 years old. Table 1 shows also a little representation of subjects age group from 0 to 20 years old. The subjects in our sample consist mainly of fisherman (n=42) and fisherman (n=34) followed artisan (n=16), trader (n=5), student (n=3) and functionary (n=7). As the FL manifestations we noticed mainly about our subjects axillary and inguinal inflamed node, lymphedema, filariasis dancing sign (FDS) across all age group.

Conclusions Although the conclusions of the literature which declared non-endemic some areas in Benin, our study still reveals the persistence of the cases of LF diseases.