Aims: The study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors for intestinal helminth infection among school-age children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study was conducted in two Local Government Areas (Calabar South and Calabar Municipality) in Calabar. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Calabar, from May to October, 2018. Methodology: Faecal samples were collected from pupils in sterile dry specimen bottles with the use of applicator sticks and analyzed using sedimentation and floatation techniques. Data obtained was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Results: Overall prevalence of intestinal helminth was 18.5%. Parasites recovered were Ascaris lumbricoides (9.3%), Trichuris trichiura (4.0%), Hookworm (2.6%), Taenia solium (0.9), Enterobius vermicularis (0.9), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.4%) and Schistosoma mansoni (0.4%) (P = 0000). Males (22.1%) were more infected than females (14.0%) in the study area (P = 0.031). Prevalence of intestinal helminths was lowest in age group 11-15 years (14.4%) and highest in age group 6-10 years (23.5%) (P = 0.005). After multivariate analysis, source of water [OR=3.355, 95% CI 1.448 – 7.770], type of sewage system [OR=7.547, 95% CI 5.011 – 8.358], hand washing before meal [OR=4.069, 95% CI 1.719 – 9.631] and hand washing after defecation [OR=2.281, 95% CI 1.059 – 4.917] were statistically associated with the detected intestinal helminthic infections in faecal samples (p = .05). Conclusion: The presence of these intestinal parasites in these schools is a public health problem and there is therefore a need to prevent these infections by improving individual personal hygiene through health education, general sanitation and provision of adequate social amenities.

Aims: The present study investigated the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth contamination in dumpsite and farmland soils in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Methodology: Soil samples were randomly collected from selected dumpsites and farmlands from July to December 2019. 200 soil samples (100 samples each from dumpsites and farmland) were collected. Soil samples were analysed using Zinc sulphate flotation technique whereas soil nematode extraction for hookworm and Strongyloides larvae was carried out using the modified Baermann technique. Results: Of the 200 soil samples examined, 131 (65.5%) were positive for ova/larvae of one or more parasites. Dumpsite soils were highly contaminated with ova/larvae of soil-transmitted helminths than farmland soils with a prevalence of 79% (n=79) and 52% (n=52) respectively (P=.02). Farmlands had the highest mean intensity (6.75±1.88) of contamination with ova/larvae of soil-transmitted helminths compared to dumpsite soils (1.68±0.14). Ascaris lumbricoides recorded the highest occurrence (35.5%) (P=.003) in soil samples examined. A. lumbricoides (40%) and Trichuris trichiura (6%) contamination was higher in dumpsite soils, while Strongyloides stercoralis larvae (34%) and hookworm (10%) contamination was higher in farmland soils. Dumpsite soils recorded the highest number of parasites (84%) in the wet season, while farmland soils recorded the highest number of parasites (92%) in the dry season (P=.11). Generally, parasitic ova/larvae were more prevalent in the dry season (91%) than in the wet season (73%) (P=.33). S. stercoralis (33%) was more prevalent in the wet season followed while A. lumbricoides (43%) recorded highest occurrence in the dry season. Conclusion: This study revealed the potential health risk of contracting soil-transmitted helminth parasites in soils around farmlands and dumpsites in Calabar, Nigeria. It is therefore important that a combination of sanitation and health education be put in place for effective control of soil-transmitted helminths.

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The mean goal of this study was to determine the abundance, intensity, and prevalence of endoparasites of Synodontis schall from the Cross River Estuary, Nigeria, and the public health implications to fish consumers. A total of 150 fresh samples were collected between May and October 2013 from the catches of the artisanal fisheries at Nsidung beach and transported to the Fisheries and Aquaculture laboratory, University of Calabar, for identification and parasitological examination. The internal organs including intestines and stomach were removed and examined microscopically for parasites. The overall prevalence of endoparasites was 11.33% and endoparasites recovered belonged to nematode (Camallanus kirandensi), Cestode (Diphyllobothrium sp. and Proteocephalus largoproglotis), and Acanthocephalans (Pomporhynchus laevis and Acanthela sp.). Parasites were more prevalent in the intestine (28 endoparasites -