Korean J Parasitol.  2007 Sep;45(3):233-238. 10.3347/kjp.2007.45.3.233.

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

• Agbolade O
• Agu NC
• Adesanya O
• Odejayi AO
• Adigun AA
• Adesanlu E
• Ogunleye F
• Sodimu AO
• Adeshina S
• Bisiriyu G
• Omotoso OI
• Udia KM

• KMID: 1104536
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2007.45.3.233

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.

Keyword

Ascaris lumbricoides; Trichuris trichiura; Strongyloides stercoralis; Taenia sp.; Schistosoma mansoni; Schistosoma haematobium; prevalence; southwest Nigeria

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Age Factors
Animals
Child
Child, Preschool
Feces/parasitology
Female
Helminthiasis/*epidemiology/parasitology
Humans
Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic/*epidemiology/parasitology
Male
Nigeria/epidemiology
Prevalence
Questionnaires
Rural Population
Schistosomiasis/*epidemiology/parasitology
Sex Factors
Urban Population