Intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis among school children in an urban center and some rural communities in southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract:Intestinal helminths and schistosomiasis among school children were investigated in an urban and some rural communities of Ogun State, southwest Nigeria. Fecal samples of 1,059 subjects (524 males, 535 females) aged 3-18 years were examined using direct smear and brine concentration methods between June 2005 and November 2006. The pooled prevalence of infection was 66.2%. Ascaris lumbricoides showed the highest prevalence (53.4%) (P < 0.001) followed by hookworms (17.8%), Trichuris trichiura (10.4%), Taenia sp. (9.6%), Schistosoma mansoni (2.3%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%), Schistosoma haematobium (0.6%), and Enterobius vermicularis (0.3%). The prevalences of A. lumbricoides, hookworms, Taenia sp., S. mansoni, and S. stercoralis in the urban centre were similar (P > 0.05) to those in the rural communities. The fertile and infertile egg ratios of A. lumbricoides in the urban centre and the rural communities were 13: 1 and 3.7: 1, respectively. Each helminth had similar prevalences among both genders (P > 0.05). The prevalence of A. lumbricoides increased significantly with age (P < 0.001). The commonest double infections were Ascaris and hookworms, while the commonest triple infections were Ascaris, hookworms, and Trichuris. The study demonstrates the need for urgent intervention programmes against intestinal helminthiases and schistosomiasis in the study area.

Prevalence of malaria and intestinal parasites coinfections and their effects on hemoglobin levels among school-aged children in Bebuatsuan clan, Obudu, Cross River State, Nigeria

“…In this study however, a higher association between malarial parasites and Ascaris lumbricoides was observed, possibly because it is the most prevalent helminth amongst children. This finding is in agreement to that of Dada-Adegbola et al 10 in Ibadan, Nigeria which also reported a similar association as well as multiple parasitic infections with Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm.…”

“…The mechanism behind this association is not clearly understood but could be that Th2 profile-associated immunoglobulin E production could down-modulate Th1 antimalarial immune responses, hence increase the risk of malaria 15 . The study showed a significant effect of the co-infection on the weight of the subjects although the impact on packed cell volume was minimal which is in contrast to results from similar studies in other areas that suggest a strong relationship between the co-infection and anaemia 10,14 . Although the PCV range of 20 -25% and also among female was found to also have the highest parasitosis and co-infection.…”

“…However this age group was found to have lower malaria parasite densities. A similar study with an asymptomatic population in Osogbo, Southwest Nigeria, reported 20.9% prevalence of co-infection 10 , which is high compared to the finding in this study. Studies from Ghana (16.6%) and Ethiopia (55.7%) were higher in this regard 11,12 , which suggests that the pattern of coinfections may vary not only within Nigeria but even within subSaharan Africa.…”

An Epidemiological Assessment of the Infectious forms of Intestinal Helminths in School Children from Chad

“…This result is similar to those of Kassi et al (2008) in Divo (Ivory Coast) for the age range of 8-9 years and Stephane et al (2004) in Agboville (Ivory Coast) for age range of "12-15" years. Similarly, Agbolade (2007) in a related study in Southwestern Nigeria reported a significant infection rate from 6 to 12 years old. Our result differs from that of Tchuem Tchuenté et al (2012) in the Central, Eastern and Western Cameroon, who found parasite prevalence higher in the age group ≤ 9 years, Nkengazong et al (2010) in South West Cameroon with high infection in the class "1-5" age old, and Sumo (2012) in the Central region of Cameroon with the prevalence rate higher in the age group > 15 years.…”

Desigualdad en la prevalencia de parasitosis intestinal en escolares de una escuela urbana y dos rurales de la comuna de Puerto Montt

“…En general, cuando se compara la frecuencia de parasitosis intestinal en niños en áreas rurales y urbanas de un territorio los resultados son diversos. En algunos lugares las prevalencias son similares, diferenciándose más bien en las especies descubiertas 36 ; en otros territorios, la prevalencia encontrada en las zonas rurales es notablemente más alta que en las zonas urbanas 37,38 , mientras que en otros, los sectores urbanos son los más afectados 39,40 . Todos los estudios relacionan determinantes sociales con mayor o menor prevalencia de parásitos y/o comensales intestinales y Chile no puede retrotraerse a esta realidad.…”