Prevalence Of Urinary Schistosomiasis In Ozuitem, Bende Local Government Area Of Abia State, Nigeria

Abstract

Studies on the prevalence of urinary Schistosomiasis were carried out in Ozuitem, Bende LGA between May and September, 1998. Urine collections from villagers were examined using centrifuge and filtration technique. A total of 1173 urine samples were collected and examined, of which 496 (42.3%) were positive for Schistosomiasis. Visible haematuria was their predominant presenting symptom. Of the total, 370 (74.6 %) were excreting under 100 eggs per 10 ml urine sample with 250 (75.0 %) males and 120 (72.6 %) females, while 3(0.6 %) were excreting more than 500 eggs in 10 ml of urine samples with 2(0.6 %) males and 1(0.6 %) females. A chi square analysis showed thatintensity of infection and frequency of water contact were significantly higher in persons under 20 years of age than in persons 20 years and above (P < 0.05). Of the 496 infected persons, 333 (67.1 %) were males, while 163 (32.9 %) were females. Overall peak infection (59.4 %) occurred in the 11-20 years age group. Infection varied significantlyamong different villages, ages and sex in the study area (P < 0.01). Schistosoma intermediate host snails collected in routine malacological survey include Bulinus globosus, B forskalii, B truncatus, Lymnaea natalensis and Melanoides tuberculata. Only B. globosus was found to shed furcocercous cercariae believed to be human schistosomes.

Keywords: Schistosoma haemaobium, Urinary schistosomiasis, Urine, Bende

Animal Research International Vol. 1 (2) 2004 pp. 77-80