The transformation of dracunculiasis from an obscure and neglected rural disease to the highly visible target of a national eradication campaign in Nigeria is described in this report. This process progressed through four overlapping stages: documentation of the extent and nature of the disease as a national problem, demonstration in Nigeria that dracunculiasis could be effectively prevented by targeted provision and use of protected rural water supplies, mobilization for community participation in, and political support of, the eradication effort, and implementation of interventions nationwide. The conduct of the first national village-by-village search for cases and documentation of the adverse socioeconomic impact of the disease (e.g., on rice production) in Nigeria were the key elements used to solicit greater attention to the problem and mobilize support for its eradication. The critical role of the mass media in this effort and other benefits of this mobilization strategy are also highlighted.

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Hepatic granulomata were experimentally induced in previously unexposed white mice, albino rats and golden hamsters by injecting viable exogenous eggs of Schistosoma mansoni via the mesenterico-portal system. Histopathologic studies of livers of these animals showed that the lesions were similar to those in infections resulting form exposure to cercariae as occurs naturally in Mansonian schistosomiasis. Comparable observations made of the lungs of animals that had received egg injections via their tail veins, showed striking differences with respect to timing of the occurrence of various histopathologic stages, mean size of granulomata, cellular composition and pathologic manifestations.

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A prevalence survey of "leopard skin" (LS) was carried out in 24 villages to assess the distribution of onchocerciasis in the Babana District of Nigeria. The findings suggested that onchocerciasis is highly endemic in this community. Of 1,310 adults examined for the presence of the characteristic onchocercal depigmentation, 26.4% were found affected. LS occurred more frequently among the cattle Fulani people than among other local ethnic groups (P less than 0.001) and was significantly more commonly associated with the left than with the right leg (P less than 0.001). A background of the study area is given.