Assessment of Physico-chemical Parameters of Soils in Fallowing Farmlands and Pit Toilet Environments as it Affects the Abundance of Geohelminthes in Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to determine the effects of physico-chemical parameters of soils in environments used for open defecation on the abundance of geohelminths in Emohua, Rivers State, South South, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 720 soil samples were collected randomly from soils found in fallowing farmlands used for open defaecation and around pit toilet environments in Mgbuitanwo, Isiodu, and Rumuche Communities in Emohua local Government Area of Rivers State. Two hundred and forty samples were collected randomly from each of the communities between the months of January-June 2013 and 2014 respectively. The samples were analysed for temperature, pH, and organic content and Centrifugal flotation method was used to examine the samples for geohelminths.

Physico-chemical Parameters of Fallowing Farmland Soils as It Affects Geohelminths in Isiodu, Emohua Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria

“…Equally, a temperature of 27.3±1 C, pH of 6.1±.2 and 12.9±3 organic matter were noted. These findings agree with reports from studies by [5,7,10,17] who recorded geohelminths eggs in soils with temperature ranges from 16 ±1 º C and 34 ± 1 º C and as the temperature increases within this range, the development of the egg is hastened. The pH and organic contents of the samples were equally within the ranges recorded by [9,18].…”

“…More sugar concentrate was added to the tube to raise the meniscus and float the eggs in order to put cover glasses on the top of the tubes and wet them by the surface of the floating solution. After allowing it to rest for 15 minutes, the cover glass was carefully removed from the top of the tubes and placed on microscope slides, the slide was examined microscopically at 40x magnification for the presence of helminths eggs/ova [7]. The eggs and larvae of human helminths were identified with reference to Atlas of Parasitology [14].…”

“…Losses incurred by farmers as a result of infections by these helminths annually runs into billions of dollars [6]. However, many farmers, particularly in developing nations, are not aware of the existence of these nematodes, due to their usual small nature and most times losses from their nonspecific effects are misunderstood to be from other pathogenic organisms or certain environmental factors [6,7]. The infection is promoted by poor hygienic habits such as indiscriminate disposal of human and animal faeces especially in most parts of Nigeria, where large amount of human and animal waste is discharged into the soil daily leading to the seeding of the soil with pathogenic organisms including geohelminths eggs and larvae [7,8].…”

“…However, many farmers, particularly in developing nations, are not aware of the existence of these nematodes, due to their usual small nature and most times losses from their nonspecific effects are misunderstood to be from other pathogenic organisms or certain environmental factors [6,7]. The infection is promoted by poor hygienic habits such as indiscriminate disposal of human and animal faeces especially in most parts of Nigeria, where large amount of human and animal waste is discharged into the soil daily leading to the seeding of the soil with pathogenic organisms including geohelminths eggs and larvae [7,8]. The processes involved in geohelminths transmission are unique, as development and survival of eggs and larval stages depend on the prevailing conditions such as soil moisture, temperature and relative atmospheric humidity [9].This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of physico-chemical parameters of soils in fallowing farmlands used for open defecation as it affects geohelminths.…”

Environmental characteristics around the household and their association with hookworm infection in rural communities from Bahir Dar, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

“…This coincides with the findings of this study, since Gedro was the village that presented the highest number of infected individuals and higher intensity infections and was located in an area with greater spatial vegetation cover, compacted soil and lower hydric stress and construction index. This has already been observed in other studies with respect to the precipitation, temperature and vegetation cover [14,62,63] but also with respect to the pH since hookworms can tolerate a pH range of 4.6 to 9.4 were they are still able to hatch and infect [64]. The presence of vigorous vegetation also favours the act of open defecation since it gives the individual privacy.…”