Background: Schistosomiasis, a chronic, debilitating and neglected tropical and sub-tropical water-borne ailment, is highly endemic in Nigeria, especially among primary school children in rural communities. The study on the variability of urine parameters in children infected with Schistosoma haematobium in Ukawu community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was undertaken. Materials and Methods: Urine samples were aseptically collected from 400 primary school children in the community and analysed using chemical reagent strips and sedimentation techniques. Results:The study revealed an overall prevalence of 27% as 108 pupils out of 400 were infected with S. haematobium in the area. Proteinuria, haematuria and leucocyturia were observed to occur in 67.0%, 79.0% and 74.9% respectively. Males had higher infections and higher occurrences of proteinuria, haematuria and leucocyturia (72.5%, 88.2% and 82.4% respectively). There was no significant difference with respect to sex (P<0.05). Children within ages 12-15 years had the highest prevalence of S. haematobium (35.5%) while those within the ages of 4-7 had the least prevalence (11.4%). The difference in the rate of infection between the different age groups was significant, statistically (P>0.05). Children within ages 12-15 had the highest occurrence of proteinuria, haematuria and leucocyturia while children within ages 4-7 had the least occurrence of the three urine parameters. All the pupils excreting above 40 egg/10ml of urine had proteinuria, haematuria and leucocyturia. Conclusion:The study revealed that the community studied is endemic with Schistosoma haematobium infections and the level of the urine parameters increased with the intensity of infection. Prompt case detection and treatment, good personal hygiene, eradication of snail hosts, public enlightenment and proper waste disposal are hereby recommended.

Nigeria reported highest incidence of dracunculiasis in the world in 1991 (WHO 1991). Ebonyi, a small state in the south-eastern part of the country was rated the most endemic with a total of 3,370 cases reported in 1996 alone (Global 2000 & Ojodu 2001). In 2005, the World Health Organisation proclaimed that the disease was eradicated from Ebonyi state and indeed, Nigeria, and the country was declared guinea worm free. This study examined the bionomics of Cyclops in sampled fresh waters in the state and their guinea worm infection status fifteen years after it was declared Guinea worm free by the World Health Organisation.. The study was done in three phases. Phase one was between 2004 and 2005 (before the proclamation), phase two was between 2005 and 2006 (shortly after the proclamation), and phase three was in May/June 2020 (fifteen years after the proclamation). Out of 5,529 Cyclops examined during the first phase using microscope, 36 were found infected with dracunculus larvae. Prevalence by seasonal variation showed that more Cyclops occur during the months of dry season (November to April) with peak transmission occurring between February and April. Out of 1,443 Cyclops studied in the second phase, none was found infected with Dracunculus larvae, indicating that guinea worm was actually eradicated in the state. Repeated study in the third phase in 2015 authenticated that finding as none of the Cyclops was found infected with guinea worm larvae. This implies that there is no more prevalence of infective guinea worm larvae in the communal water sources in the area. But the abundance of Cyclops were more in the communal water sources in the third phase due to suspension of regular treatment of ponds with abate which controls Cyclops population in water bodies. The increase of Cyclops population in the water bodies calls for serious attention by responsible authorities and collaborating agencies with the view to ensuring more effective surveillance system as any introduction of one case of dracunculus larvae into the water bodies will result in explosive outbreak of the disease in a larger scale in the area.