title: Intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis among school children in an urban center and some rural communities in southwest Nigeria.
abstract: 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.
authors: Parasitology and Medical Entomology Laboratory, Department of Plant Science and Applied Zoology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Nigeria. agbolmos@yahoo.com.
authors: Olufemi Moses
authors: OM
authors: Agbolade
authors: Ndubuisi Chinweike
authors: NC
authors: Agu
authors: Oluseyi Olusegun
authors: OO
authors: Adesanya
authors: Adedayo Olugbenga
authors: AO
authors: Odejayi
authors: Aliu Adekunle
authors: AA
authors: Adigun
authors: Emmanuel Babatunde
authors: EB
authors: Adesanlu
authors: Flourish George
authors: FG
authors: Ogunleye
authors: Adetoun Omolayo
authors: AO
authors: Sodimu
authors: Stella Ajoke
authors: SA
authors: Adeshina
authors: Ganiyat Olusola
authors: GO
authors: Bisiriyu
authors: Oluwatosin Ibiyemi
authors: OI
authors: Omotoso
authors: Karen Mfon
authors: KM
authors: Udia
mesh_terms: 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