Background: A cross-sectional study of primary school children was conducted to evaluate and compare the performance of some rapid screening methods in the detection of Schistosoma haematobium infection in Nigeria Cement Factory (NigerCem) and Nike Lake areas of Southeastern Nigeria. Methods: Urine samples of school children were examined for macro-haematuria and tested for microhaematuria and proteinuria using reagent strips followed by egg microscopy. Self-reported haematuria was assessed using simple questionnaire. The performances of these rapid diagnoses singly and in combination were calculated using egg microscopy as gold standard. Results: The prevalence of the infection was 26.6% in NigerCem and 5.1% in Nike Lake area, classifying these areas as moderate-and low-prevalence areas (MPA and LPA); while in the subsample used for selfreported haematuria, the prevalence was 27.2 and 4.2% in MPA and LPA, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) of micro-haematuria was comparable in MPA (55.26%) and LPA (57.89%). Overall PPV of macro-haematuria was 87.50% in MPA and 66.70% in LPA while in the detection of heavy infection; PPV was higher in LPA (75%) than in MPA (66.67%). In LPA and MPA, combination of micro-haematuria and proteinuria, and concomitant presence of macro-haematuria, micro-haematuria, and proteinuria had PPV of 83.33 and 63.16%, and 100 versus 66.67%, respectively. Generally, the rapid screening tests had lower negative predictive values (NPVs) in MPA than in LPA. The use of simple questionnaire increased the PPV of heavy infection in MPA (77.78%). This was further increased to 80% when self-reported haematuria was combined with micro-haematuria. Conclusion: The result suggests that in MPA with chronic infections, combination of self-reported haematuria and micro-haematuria may reduce the chance of missing those who should be treated.

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Twelve plastic basins each filled with 6 litres of dechlorinated tap water at pH 6 7 (control), 7 5 and 8 such that each pH treatment was replicated three times in a Latin square design were used for the study. The tanks were randomly stocked with 10 four-week-old Clarias gariepinus (♀) x Heterobranchus bidorsalis (♂) hybrid juveni es (mean we ght 3.32 ± 0.05 g) and fed 30.25% crude protein diets for five weeks. Fish growth was measured by weighing the juveniles every week and the weight differences, specific growth rate (SGR) and food conversion ratio (FCR) determined. F sh raised at pH treatment 7.0 recorded sign f cantly higher we ght ga n (P < 0 05) than other pH treatments We ght ga n of fish ra sed at pH 6.0 was however not different (P > 0 05) from that of fish raised on pH 8.0 treatment. There was significant dif erence (P < 0.05) in the SGR of the juveniles raised at pH 6 and pH 8. There was no s gnificant difference (P > 0.05) between the SGR of f sh ra sed at pH 7 and pH 7.5 bu there was s gnificant difference between the SGR of fish raised at pH 7 and fish raised at other treatments. Fish showed reduced growth when raised at pH 6 and pH 8 and positive growth when raised at pH 7 and 7.5 though there was no significant d fference (P > 0 05) in FCR o fish cultured at all pH treatments. Our results showed that the optimal pH range or rais ng the hybrid cat ish juveni es was between 7.0-7.5 pH.