Intestinal parasitiasis: Positive cases and low haematocrit among pregnant women at the Antenatal Clinic, Vom, Nigeria

Abstract

Stool and blood samples examined by microscopy and haematocrit respectively for 205 volunteers who were pregnant women attending the antenatal care unit at the Primary Health Care Clinic in Vom. Jos-North Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria; 94 (45.9%) of the samples were positive for intestinal parasites, 48 (51.1%) having multiple infection and 46 (48.9%) having single infection. Age and gestational status of women did not significantly affect infection rate (P>0.05) but multigravidae had significantly higher (P<9.95) rate (53.3%) than primigravidae (34.9%). Infection peaked among 20-26 year old women as well as among those in the second trimester of pregnancy. Pregnancy and environmental exposure were therefore contributory factors of infection. Cysts of Entamoeba coli (13.6%) and Entamoeba histolytica (4.4%) were seen, as were ova of Ascaris (10.2%), hookworm (7.3%). Enterobius (3.4%) and Taenia (3.4%). Larvae of Strongyloides occurred in 7 (3.4%) of stool samples examined. No characteristic symptoms of intestinal parasitic disease were observed in any of the infected women. However haematocrit results show low PCV (20-29%) in more of the infected than the uninfected women. Those with hookworm infection had the highest rate (31.6%) of low PCV.

Keywords: parasitiasis, haematocrit and pregnancy

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 25, 2004: 33-37