title: Public health implications of soil contaminated with helminth eggs in the metropolis of Kaduna, Nigeria.
abstract: Environmental and socio-cultural variables influencing the distribution of helminth eggs in 608 soil samples were studied in 14 playgrounds that differ in socio-economic status in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria, using a modified sieving method and a sucrose flotation medium of specific gravity 1.27. Helminth eggs were found in 62% of the soil samples and the distribution was as follows: Toxocara spp. 50.4%, Taenia spp./Echinococcus spp. 36.9%, Dipylidium caninum 26.3%, Ancylostoma spp. 9.0%, Ascaris spp. 7.2%, Trichuris spp. 3.7% and Ascaridia spp. 1.9%. A higher prevalence (68.1%) was recorded during the dry harmattan period while in the rainy period the rate was 58.1%. Mean egg densities ranged from 1.11 +/- 0.32 to 3.92 +/- 2.47 in areas moderately rated. Samples from site 14, which was highly rated, were more contaminated (78.1%) than those collected from other sites, while the intensity of contamination (14.0%) was more in moderately rated site 4 than in the rest of the sites. There were significant associations between the prevalence of helminth eggs and rainy period of the study (odds ratio (OR) = 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) on OR: 0.20 0.05). This study shows that the period of study, the presence of dogs and vegetation influence the prevalence of helminth eggs in soil in Kaduna metropolis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. Ambrosev2003@yahoo.com
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Maikai
authors.forename: J U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Umoh
authors.forename: O J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Ajanusi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ajogi
mesh_terms: D000722:Ancylostoma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001199:Ascaridoidea / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001200:Ascaris / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004285:Dogs; D009549:Nigeria; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011634:Public Health; D011891:Rain; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D013621:Taenia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014119:Toxocara / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014258:Trichuris / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D012987:Soil