Helminth eggs recovered from sediments of streams and ponds in irrigation areas of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Wet sediments from streams and ponds used for crop irrigation in some parts of Plateau State, Nigeria, were examined for the presence of helminth eggs using the high density (d = 1.44) potassium iodomercurate concentration method. The results showed the presence of helminth eggs in 123 (18.3%) of the 672 samples analyzed, and levels ranged from 3 ± 0.4 eggs.kg-1 to 360 ± 43 eggs.kg-1 wet sediment. Samples with eggs contained, in decreasing amounts, hookworm, Ascaris, Trichuris and Toxocara viable eggs, with the Dilimi stream sediment samples having the highest helminth egg concentration. Relatively high concentrations of hookworm eggs were also recovered from Bukuru stream sediment (248 ± 49 eggs.kg-1). Similarly, appreciable amounts of Ascaris eggs were recovered from Niger-creek stream sediment (123 ± 44 eggs.kg-1), Bukuru stream sediment (143 ± 36 eggs.kg-1), Bisichi - Jenta pond sediment (182 ± 18 eggs.kg-1) and Zawan pond sediment (173 ± 23 eggs.kg-1). Trichuris eggs and Toxocara sp. eggs occurred in much fewer amounts and frequency. The stream sediment samples appear to contain a higher ratio of helminth eggs then the pond sediment samples. The possible health risks of these parasites to the irrigation farmers and consumers are further examined.


JOURNAL OF AQUATIC SCIENCES Volume 16, Number 2, October 2001, pp. 95-98




KEY WORDS:

Helminth Eggs, Stream and Pond Sediments, Irrigation Farmers, Health Risks