Urinary schistosomiasis: Water contact frequency and infectivity among secondary school students in Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

This study was carried out among the students of three secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria, using the Ajibode stream situated along Ajibode village as the project area. A total of 205 students were examined, for the presence of Schistosoma (S.) haematobium ova from the three secondary schools. Sixty students from one school served as controls because the school is located far away from the stream while 145 students from the other two schools, served as tests because of their proximity and accessibility to the stream. Out of the 145 students, 7(6.7%) males and 1(2.5%) female had S. haematobium ova in their urine samples. Ajibode Grammar school had the highest number of 6 (24%), out of the 80 students sampled in that school. A prevalence of 2 (10%), was recorded in Abadina College among the 65 students sampled in the school. There was no significant association between the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among male and female students in the two schools, (Abadina College and Ajibode Grammar School. Also, there was no association between the prevalence among male and female students in both schools (df = 1, x² = 0.97, P>0.05). The water-contact frequency and knowledge of the cause of the disease among the students were investigated with the use of a structured standardised questionnaire. The Ajibode stream and its surroundings were examined for the presence of Bulainus globusus, the intermediate host of S. haematobium. Snails found were examined for infectivity and the presence of sporocysts confirmed infectivity. Water samples, from the stream were also examined for miracidia and cercariae. The presence of these confirmed that the stream was infected.

Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium, Bulainus globusus, sporocysts, miracidia and cercariae

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp. 129-134