Seroprevalence of human cystic Echinococcosis in some local government areas Of Adamawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Echinococcosis is a neglected zoonotic parasitic infection affecting both domestic animals and human with serious health and economic impacts. A serological study was conducted on human subjects from six Local Government Areas (LGA) of Adamawa State. The questionnaire was designed containing information on socio-demography of subjects and the seroprevalence of human cystic echinococcosis in the study area. This community based study was conducted on consented subjects between August 2019 and April 2021. Five hundred and sixty-four (564) human blood samples were screened for IgG antibodies to Echinococcus granulosus using a commercial ELISA kit. All data were statistically analysed using SPSS Version 26. Out of the five hundred and sixty-four (564) samples screened. Two hundred and eighteen 218(38.65%) were found to be positive. The highest prevalence rate of 10.64% was recorded in Guyuk, while the lowest prevalence rate of 4.43% was recorded in Michika. The socio-demographic information of the subjects with respect to gender reveals that male had the highest prevalence (21.45%) than the female (17.19%). Participants within the age bracket 31 – 40 years had the highest prevalence (17.02%), while in relation to occupation, farmers recorded the highest percentage prevalence (16.84%). Statistically there was a significant relationship between contact/ownership of dog and dog meat consumption at p<0.05.