The incidence, intensity and host morbidity of human parasitic protozoan infections in gastrointestinal disorder outpatients in Buea Sub Division, Cameroon.
BACKGROUND
Numerous protozoans inhibit the gastrointestinal tract of humans with the majority being either non-pathogenic commensals or of a type that may result in mild disease. However, some of these organisms can cause severe diseases under certain circumstances while others may become highly virulent and invasive causing potentially lethal systemic disease. This study investigated the prevalence, intensity and host morbidity of human intestinal protozoan infections in individuals living in the Buea Sub-Division, Cameroon.


METHODS
Random sampling was used to collect stool samples from 356 patients in a cross-sectional study. All samples were examined by formol-ether concentration and direct smear techniques. Data collected was analyzed and differences in proportions were determined using the Chi square (chi(2)) test, Fisher's exact test, or analysis of variance where appropriate.


RESULTS
It was found that 28.1% (100/356) of the sampled population were infected with protozoans. Females showed a higher infection rate (29.7%; 56/182) than males (26.4%; 46/174) and there was a significantly (P < 0.001) higher prevalence in rural areas (38.7%; 55/142) than in urban areas (21.0%; 45/214). The 6 to 12 years age group had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher infection rate (42.9%; 30/70). The total prevalence of intestinal protozoans was as follows: E. histolytica (24.4%), E. coli (11.2%) and G. lamblia (0.6%). The most prevalent morbidity effects associated with intestinal protozoan infections were abdominal pains, dysentery and body weakness.


CONCLUSIONS
Since human intestinal parasitic infections are high in the study area, mass treatment of people with intestinal protozoans is strongly recommended, especially in the rural areas where the prevalence was very high.
Department of Plant and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon. judithmbuh@yahoo.com
Judith Veshiyi
JV
Mbuh
Helen N
HN
Ntonifor
James T
JT
Ojong
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004403:Dysentery / Q000209:etiology; D004747:Entamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D010045:Outpatients; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors; D014505:Urban Population