The study aimed at assessing the prevalence and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminthiases amongst school-aged children in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State. Faecal samples were collected from 504 participants and analysed using the Kato-Katz technique. A total of 232 (46.0%) samples were positive for soil-transmitted helminths. The overall prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis were 14.1%, 16.5%, 2.6%, and 12.9% respectively. The prevalence of infections were higher among males (46.6%) than females (45.4%). Overall parasitic infection was higher in the 5-7 year age group (65.6%) than in the other age groups (p = 0.000). Infection intensities of A. lumbricoides (84.00 EPG) (p = 0.044) and T. trichiura (96.00 EPG) (p = 0.041) were higher in school-age children aged 14-16 years. A. lumbricoides and hookworm co-infection (8.7%) was the most common mixed infection and was signi cantly higher in males than females. School-aged children who did not have prior knowledge about soiltransmitted helminth infections, the habit of drinking water without boiling, open defecation, use of pit latrine and children who did not have toilet facilities in school were signi cantly associated with soil-transmitted helminthiases. There was a signi cant relationship between washing hands after using the toilet, the habit of putting on footwear outside the house, and soil-transmitted helminth infection. In addition to preventive chemotherapy, control measures should focus on health education, providing clean drinking water, proper disposal of human excreta and sewage, and environmental hygiene.

As a result of the poor sensitivity and speci city of the standard parasitological diagnostic methods currently being used, this study was conducted to compare the standard parasitological diagnostic methods and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in determining the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in Cross River State (CRS). The study was conducted between April 2015 and March 2016. Seven hundred and seventy seven (777) urine samples were randomly collected from selected school-age children. The urine samples were subjected to standard parasitological and molecular examinations. Chisquare test was used to test the differences between the data on subgroups and the results from specimen examinations. An overall prevalence of 1.7% was recorded using microscopy and 34.7% recorded using PCR. The highest prevalence of infection by microscopy occurred in the Southern Senatorial District (2.3%), while the Northern Senatorial District recorded the highest prevalence of infection by PCR (53.2%) (p < 0.05). Males were more infected (2.4%) than females (0.6%) using microscopy. With PCR, males were also more infected (35.7%) compared to females (33.3%) (p < 0.05). The highest prevalence of infection using microscopy and PCR both occurred in school-age children aged 5-8 years (3.6% and 47.8% respectively), while the lowest prevalence for both methods occurred in participants aged 17-20 years (0% for both methods) (p < 0.05). This study has shown PCR to be effective in detecting schistosomiasis infection and also re-a rms the endemicity of urinary schistosomiasis in the three Senatorial Districts of CRS.

Aims: Vegetables are usually exposed to parasitic ova, larvae or oocyst during cultivation, irrigation, storage, transportation or while processing for consumption. Consumption of raw, unwashed and improperly cooked vegetables is considered a risk factor for transmission of intestinal parasites. This study assessed the parasitic contamination of vegetables and also determined factors associated with parasitic contamination of vegetables in selected markets in Calabar, Cross River State. Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Markets within Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria between September and October, 2018. Methodology: A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data on factors associated with parasitic contamination of vegetables. 300 vegetable samples were purchased and processed from three different markets in Calabar for examination of parasitic contamination using direct wet mount and zinc sulphate floatation techniques. Results: 15.7% (47/300) of the vegetables sampled were positive for at least one parasite. The species and stages of parasites detected were larvae of Strongyloides, ova of Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm, and cysts of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. Larvae of Strongyloides (11.3%) were the most frequently detected followed by ova of T. trichiura (1.7%) and Hookworm (1.7%) (P = 0.000). Among the five vegetable types sampled, waterleaf (40%) had the highest level of parasitic contamination followed by pumpkin (21.7%). Washing vegetables before display and the means of display were significantly associated with parasitic contamination (P = 0.000). Conclusion: Prevention of contamination is important in reducing food-borne parasitic infections and can be achieved through improved personal hygiene practices of farmers, vendors and consumers, proper washing of vegetables and improved sanitary conditions especially around markets where these vegetables are sold.

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.