Pre-TAS Evaluation of mass drug administration effectiveness on lymphatic filariasis elimination and study of Immunological response in elephantiasis patients in Osun State, Nigeria

The study evaluated the effectiveness of mass drug administration for lymphatic filariasis elimination across twelve districts in Osun State, Nigeria. Researchers tested 7,388 individuals for filarial antigen using test strips and found 0% positive results across all surveyed areas, significantly below the 2% threshold set by the World Health Organization. Average participation in mass drug administration programs was 56.09%, with the highest participation in Ola-Oluwa district (84.70%) and the lowest in Ilesha East (18.97%). Hematological assessments of patients with chronic disease revealed immune suppression, including reduced white blood cell and lymphocyte counts. The results indicate that Osun State has successfully transitioned to a transmission-free phase, however continued surveillance and strengthened public health interventions are necessary to ensure permanent disease eradication.