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

Mathieu K. Oke; Luc H. O. Dakossi; Sedaminou J. Gbenoudon; Malomon A. Bonou; Bertin A. Gbaguidi

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20263589

Authors

Mathieu K. Oke Laboratory of Immunology of Infectious and Allergic Diseases (IMMIA). FAST, UAC. 04 BP 1221 Cotonou, Benin; Institute of Applied Biomedical Sciences (ISBA), Cotonou, Benin
Luc H. O. Dakossi Laboratory of Immunology of Infectious and Allergic Diseases (IMMIA). FAST, UAC. 04 BP 1221 Cotonou, Benin; Institute of Applied Biomedical Sciences (ISBA), Cotonou, Benin
Sedaminou J. Gbenoudon Laboratory of Immunology of Infectious and Allergic Diseases (IMMIA). FAST, UAC. 04 BP 1221 Cotonou, Benin; Institute of Applied Biomedical Sciences (ISBA), Cotonou, Benin
Malomon A. Bonou Autonomous Center of Radiology of the Polytechnic School of Abomey Calavi (EPAC), UAC, Benin
Bertin A. Gbaguidi Autonomous Center of Radiology of the Polytechnic School of Abomey Calavi (EPAC), UAC, Benin

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20263589

Keywords:

Benin, Elephantiasis, Ultrasound, Southern departments

Abstract

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.

References

World Health Organization. Regional Committee for Africa, 54th session. Elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the African Region: status report 2004. WHO Regional Office for Africa. 2004. Available from: https://iris.who.int/items/73818f0b-0b06-422f-8b11-468792667df4. Accessed on 27 March 2025.

Balam S. Impact of mass drug administration with the albendazole/ivermectin combination on lymphatic filariasis infection and transmission in the South-Sudanian savanna zone of Mali. Université de Bamako. 2007.

Jewell C. The evolution of epidemiological profiles and the indispensable role of medical innovation. 2016. Available from: https://www.wipo.int/fr/web/ wipo-magazine/articles/changing-global-disease-patterns-and-the-need-for-medical-innovation-39421. Accessed March 27, 2025.

Samana MM, Germain D, Kamoun P, Collectif. Compendium of Biopathology: Specialized Medical Analyses. Biomnis; 2012:2.

Wainsten JP. Lymphatic filariasis. Available from: https://www.larousse.fr/encyclopedie/medical/filariose_lymphatique/13141. Accessed on 27 March 2025.

Viognier C. MFI Weekly: Health. A hope against elephantiasis. 2005. Available from: http://www1.rfi.fr/fichiers/MFI/Sante/1619.asp. Accessed on 27 March 2025.

Technical Drafting Committee for the National Health Information and Management System. Health Statistics Yearbook (ASS) of the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis. Ministry of Health; 2016:165.

Technical Committee for the Drafting of Health Statistics Yearbooks. Health Statistics Yearbook of the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis. Ministry of Health; 2010:144.

Boko-Collins PM, Ogouyemi-Hounto A, Adjinacou-Badou EG, Gbaguidi-Saizonou L, Dossa NI, Dare A, et al. Assessment of treatment impact on lymphatic filariasis in 13 districts of Benin: progress toward elimination in nine districts despite persistence of transmission in some areas. Parasites Vectors. 2019;12(1):276.

Pfarr K, Hoerauf A, Mand S, Debrah AY, Specht S. Filariasis in Africa- treatment challenges and prospects. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2011;17(7):977-85.

Aubry P, Gaüzère BA. Filarioses lymphatiques. Scribd. 2018.

Sakhi M, Ouabid A, Amrani D, Chlihi A, Boukind E. Lymphoedema of the lower limbs (about two cases of elephantiasis). Rev Morocco Chir Orthop Trauma. 2008;35:44-6.

Dekou A, Konan PG, Yao B, Vodi C, Fofana A, Manzan K. Idiopathic penoscrotal elephantiasis: a new case report and review of the literature. Can Urol Assoc J. 2013;7(1-2):E29.

National Institute of Statistics and Economic Analysis. Compendium of Villages and City Neighborhoods in the Ouémé Department. Ministry of Planning and Development; 2016:41.

Akogun OB, Adewale B, Mogaji HO, Dawodu R, Bankole M, Ayodeji A, et al. Confirmatory mapping for lymphatic filariasis a decade after baseline endemicity assessment in highly urbanized settings of Lagos, Nigeria. Int J Infect Dis. 2025;159:108014.

Opare JL, de Souza DK, Alomatu B, Mensah E, Nyarko E, Asiedu O, et al. Confirmatory mapping for lymphatic filariasis in districts previously considered nonendemic in Ghana. Int J Infect Dis. 2025;152:107801.

Supranelfy Y, Suryaningtyas NH, Taviv Y, Yenni A, Arisanti M, Mayasari R, et al. Risk of recrudescence of lymphatic filariasis after post-MDA surveillance in Brugia malayi Endemic Belitung District, Indonesia. Korean J Parasitol. 2020;58(6):627-34.

World Health Organization. Lymphatic filariasis. 2026. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lymphatic-filariasis. Accessed on 25 August 2026.

Jones RT. Non-endemic cases of lymphatic filariasis. Trop Med Int Health. 2014;19(11):1377-83.

Kwarteng A, Kenyon KH, Asiedu SO, Garcia R, Kini P, Osei-Poku P, et al. Knowledge and perceptions of lymphatic filariasis patients in selected hotspot endemic communities in southern Ghana. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2023;3(10):e0002476.

Koly KN, Saba J, Nessa Z. Social and healthcare-seeking experiences of people affected with lymphedema in Bangladesh. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2025;19(8):e0013384.

Dreyer G, Santos A, Noroes J, Amaral F, Addiss D. Ultrasonographic detection of living adult Wuchereria bancrofti using a 3.5-MHz transducer. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1998;59(3):399-403.

Mand S, Debrah AY, Klarmann U. The role of ultrasonography in the differentiation of the various types of filaricele due to bancroftian filariasis. Acta Trop. 2011;120(1):23-32.

Rifky F, Omar H, Maged ES, Redam M, Ramzy R. Bancroftian filariasis in Egypt: visualization of adult worms and subclinical lymphatic pathology by scrotal ultrasound. 1998;59(6):864-7.

Rifky F, Omar H, Maged ES, Redam M, Ramzy R. Bancroftian filariasis in Egypt: visualization of adult worms and subclinical lymphatic pathology by scrotal ultrasound. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1998;59(6):864-7.