Effects of Albendazole and Pyrantel Pamoate Chemotherapy on Soil Transmitted Helminths among Pupils of Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

A parasitological study on soil transmitted helminthes in primary school pupils in relation to the effect of chemotherapy in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State using 745 pupils. . Two hundred and sixty four (264) pupils who had three species of soil transmitted helminthes, (Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm and Trichuris ), were randomly categorised into three groups (I, II and III), consisting of sizes 85, 89 and 90 pupils. Group II was treated with albendazole, group III with Pyrantel pamoate while group I was administered with placebo characterised with the same colour and shape as the anthelminths. Post treatment test was carried out two weeks after the administration of chemotherapy to ascertain the effect of the drugs on the treated pupils using normal saline wet mount and formal ether concentration method where there were no clear results. MacMaster egg count technique for estimation of egg intensities was also used. Effects of the treatment on the weight of the pupils was also determined. Overall results showed that out of 179 pupils who were treated with anthelminths,137 ( 76.5%) were cured.Specifically Albendazole and pyrantel pamoate gave the cure rate of 75.3%and 77.8% respectively. Overall, egg reduction rate was 98.3% (98.0% albendazole and 98.6% pyrantel pamoate). Subjects treated with placebos showed positive response as egg intensity increased from 135700 to 169000 egg per gram pre and post treatment respectively. There is significant difference between the effects of the drugs ,p> 0.05.A remarkable increase in mean weight from 33.2 to 34.5kg among those who were treated was observed while mean weight reduction from32.8 to31.6kg was also observed among the untreated group.

Keywords: Chemotherapy, Albendazole Pyrantel pamoate and Placebos

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 33 [1] March 2012, pp. 111-116