Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T06:29:16.528Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Urinary schistosomiasis in rural communities of some Local Government Areas in Plateau State, Nigeria: a preliminary parasitological and malacological Survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

P. F. Akufongwe*
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Applied Entomology and Parasitology Unit, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
D. A. Dakul
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Applied Entomology and Parasitology Unit, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
P.D. Michael
Affiliation:
Qua'an-Pan Cottage Hospital, Ba'ap, Nigeria
P.D. Dajagat
Affiliation:
Qua'an-Pan Cottage Hospital, Ba'ap, Nigeria
W.L. Arabs
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, Applied Entomology and Parasitology Unit, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
*
*P.O. Box 835, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

A preliminary parasitological and malacological survey was effected in rural communities of some Local Government Areas (LGA) in Plateau State, Nigeria, to estimate the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and identify active transmission foci. Out of 2888 persons examined in six LGAs, 1381 (47.82%) were excreting eggs of Schistosoma haematobium in their urine. Prevalence rates did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between the LGAs: Pankshin (62.4%), Shendam (40.2%), Qua'an-Pan (22.9%), Langtang South (45.4%), Langtang North (58.8%) and Wase (50.0%). Infection rates were significantly different (P < 0.001) between the sexes. Many water bodies in the study communities were colonized by infected Bulinus snails. Snail infection rates varied significantly (P < 0.001) between the dry and wet seasons. A positive correlation was observed between snail infection rates and the prevalence of S. haematobium.

Type
Research Papers
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Akogun, O.B. (1990) Water demand and schistosomiasis among Gumau people of Bauchi, Nigeria. Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 84, 548550.Google Scholar
Amali, D. (1989) The prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among primary school children in Benue State, Nigeria. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 83,197198.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Anosike, J.C., Okafor, F.C., Onwuliri, C.O.E. (1992) Urinary schistosomiasis in Toro Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Helminthologia 29, 177179.Google Scholar
Betterton, C., Ndifon, G.T., Bassey, S.E., Tan, R.M. & Oyeyi, T. (1988) Schistosomiasis in Kano State, Nigeria I. Human infections near dam sites and the distribution and habitat preferences of potential snail intermediate hosts. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 82, 581–570Google Scholar
Blair, D.M. (1956) Bilharziasis survey in British West and East Africa, Nyasaland and the Rhodesias. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 15, 203.Google Scholar
Chugh, K.S., Harries, A.D., Dahniya, M.H., Nwosu, A.C., Gashua, A., Thomas, T., Thaliza, T.D., Hoger, S., Ajewski, Z. & Onwuchekwa, A.C. (1986) Urinary schistosomiasis in Maiduguri north east, Nigeria. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 80, 593599.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cowper, S.G. (1963) Schistosomiasis in Nigeria. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 57, 307332.Google Scholar
Cowper, S.G. (1971) A synopsis of African bilharziasis. London, H.K. Lewis and Co. Ltd.Google Scholar
larotski, I.A. & Davis, A. (1981) The schistosomiasis problem in the world: result of a WHO questionnaire. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 59,155–128.Google Scholar
Okwuosa, V.N. (1979) The ecological studies of freshwater snails with particular reference to Schistosoma vectors in Lagos, Ogun States in Nigeria. PhD Thesis, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, 300 pp.Google Scholar
Pugh, R.N.H., Bell, D.R. & Gilles, H.M. (1980) Malumfashi endemic diseases research project XV: The potential medical importance of bilharzia in northern Nigeria: A suggested rapid, cheap and effective solution for control of Schistosoma haematobium infection. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 74, 597613.Google Scholar
Sellin, B., Simonkovigh, E. & Roux, J. (1980) Etude de la répartition des mollusques hÔtes intermediares des schistosomes en Afrique de 1'ouest. Premiers resultats. Medicine Tropicale 40, 3139.Google Scholar
Smith, V.G.F. (1982) Distribution of snails of medical and veterinary importnance in an organically polluted watercourse in Nigeria. Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 76, 539546.Google Scholar