Impact of Livestock Farming on Human Onchocerciasis in Adamawa and North Regions Cameroon

Abstract

Background: Onchocerciasis or "river blindness" is currently a major cause of blindness in the world. The use of Ivermectin by the high risk population showed its limits. In these regions, cattle raising is the main occupation and human onchocerciasis is reduced since the high density of cattle stocking protects by zooprophylaxis and cross immunization. This work was carried out in order to know if cattle protect humans against human onchocerciasis. To achieve this goal, two high densities of cattle stocking and onchocerciasis zones were selected: Wakwa and Touboro, two zones of Cameroon located on the Vina River. Methods: Blackflies were collected in each zone and dissected thereafter. Skin biopsies were carried out on volunteers. Infested with Onchocerca blackflies were the subject of detailed accounts and biopsies for microfilariae. Results: Dissections showed 83.87% of infected blackflies with O. ochengi in Wakwa and 82.5% in Touboro. Moreover, 17.5% of parasitized blackflies were parous of O. volvulus in Touboro against 16.13% in Wakwa. Biopsy results displayed that Wakwa recorded a rate of 2%, while Touboro 4% onchocerciasis microfilariae. Conclusions: These results show that the cattle raising influence the transmission of onchocerciasis in humans.