Intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis among school children in an urban center and some rural communities in southwest Nigeria.
Intestinal helminths and schistosomiasis among school children were investigated in an urban and some rural communities of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. Fecal samples of 1,059 subjects (524 males, 535 females) aged 3-18 years were examined using direct smear and brine concentration methods between June 2005 and November 2006. The pooled prevalence of infection was 66.2%. Ascaris lumbricoides showed the highest prevalence (53.4%) (P < 0.001) followed by hookworms (17.8%), Trichuris trichiura (10.4%), Taenia sp. (9.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (2.3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%), Schistosoma haematobium (0.6%), and Enterobius vermicularis (0.3%). The prevalences of A. lumbricoides, hookworms, Taenia sp., S. mansoni, and S. stercoralis in the urban centre were similar (P > 0.05) to those in the rural communities. The fertile and infertile egg ratios of A. lumbricoides in the urban centre and the rural communities were 13: 1 and 3.7: 1, respectively. Each helminth had similar prevalences among both genders (P > 0.05). The prevalence of A. lumbricoides increased significantly with age (P < 0.001). The commonest double infections were Ascaris and hookworms, while the commonest triple infections were Ascaris, hookworms, and Trichuris. The study demonstrates the need for urgent intervention programmes against intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis in the study area.
Agbolade
Olufemi Moses
OM
Parasitology and Medical Entomology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science and Applied Zoology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. agbolmos@yahoo.com.
Agu
Ndubuisi Chinweike
NC
Adesanya
Oluseyi Olusegun
OO
Odejayi
Adedayo Olugbenga
AO
Adigun
Aliu Adekunle
AA
Adesanlu
Emmanuel Babatunde
EB
Ogunleye
Flourish George
FG
Sodimu
Adetoun Omolayo
AO
Adeshina
Stella Ajoke
SA
Bisiriyu
Ganiyat Olusola
GO
Omotoso
Oluwatosin Ibiyemi
OI
Udia
Karen Mfon
KM
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006373:Helminthiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population