Annual report on the Medical Research Institute / 1909-.

  • Nigeria. Medical Research Institute.
Date:
[1921]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on the Medical Research Institute / 1909-. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    8/20 (page 4)
    population is heavily infected with Loa loa. Preventive measures should be similar to those undertaken for the eradication of other insect- borne disease, such as Malaria and Trypanosomiasis, namely, drainage to reduce the number of possible breeding places, clearing of trees to deprive the fly of the shade which is necessary for its winged existence, and, where such schemes are impracticable from the monetary aspect or because of the magnitude of the work involved, the establish¬ ment of stations in infected areas should be avoided. Sapele town, itself, is a fine example of the value of clearing and drainage. The investigations thus briefly recorded were greatly facilitated by the kind help of the following:—Mr. Methven, the Manager of the Rubber Plantation near Sapele, Mr. M. H. Martindale, the District Officer and Dr. Macfarlane and Dr. Salmon Smith, the Medical Officers. At Calabar, Dr. Adam, Dr. Braithwaite and Dr. Quirk, m.b.e., gave much willing help. Dr. Stewart at Lagos, rendered great assistance with the microphotographic work as did also Dr. Stevenson of the Wellcome Bureau of Scientific Research in London. It is a very great pleasure to acknowledge the help obtained in these various ways. Regarding the prevalence of Loa loa infection, as evidenced by the presence of embryos in the blood, only a little work has been done. At Sapele, 467 natives were examined. Only one drop of blood was taken from each person, a fr£sh preparation, obtained between mid-day and 1 p.m. Seventy-five showed embryos of Loa loa (Microfilaria diurna) which gives a percentage of just over sixteen. Dr. Young examined 199 prisoners in Lagos and found that 33 showed embryos of Loa loa in the blood. This also gives a percentage of between sixteen and seventeen. He found that the smallest number of embryos per cubic millimetre was one, the largest number 1,020 and the average 211 per cubic millimetre. DYSENTERY AND OTHER INTESTINAL CONDITIONS. Four hundred and fifty-two samples of faeces were examined during the year. Of this total 328 were from Europeans and 124 from natives. In several instances two or more samples were received from one case, so that the number of individuals concerned is less than the number of samples examined. As usual, Amoebic Dysentery bulked largely amongst the Europeans and Helminthic infections were most prevalent amongst the natives. In the former, the Europeans, Entamoeba histolytica, in the free active form or in the pre-cystic stage and sometimes also along with the cysts themselves, occurred in 51 cases. The cysts alone were found in other 16 individuals. Of the other intestinal protozoa, Lamblia was observed in four cases, Iadamoeba biitschlu in two and Trichomonas in one. The number of cases in which Entamoeba coli and Endolimax nava were found, was not recorded but both parasites are of fairly frequent occurrence, particularly the former. Ova of Tricocephalus were noted in four cases, of Ascaris in one and of Ankylostomum in one. Segments of Taenia Saginata were passed, in one case. The number of negative examinations was two hundred and forty-eight. Amongst the natives, Entamoeba histolytica in the free form was observed in 24 cases and the cvsts alone were noted in sixteen cases. Iodamoeba biitschlu was found in three cases. Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli were frequently met with. Tetramitus was recorded on four occasions and Lamblia was encountered in one. Ascaris ova were noted in 35 cases, Tricocephalus ova in 19, Ankylostomum ova in ten. It should be added that more frequently than not, the ova of tvTo or more kinds of worm were found in the same patient. In 47 samples the findings were negative.