Schistosoma haematobium Infection in Relation to Plasmodium falciparum Parasitaemia Level in School Children in Ijebu East L.G.A., Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

Studies were carried out to investigate how infections with Schistosoma haematobium influences Plasmodium parasitaemia level in school children in Ijebu East L.G.A. of Ogun State, south west Nigeria between August and November 2008. One hundred and thirty (130) primary school children, aged between 6 and 15 years grouped into 6-10 years (Group A) and 11-15 years (Group B) participated in the study. Urine samples were examined for schistosoma eggs by sedimentation technique and thick films were made from capillary blood and examined to check parasitaemia level. The participants were grouped into two based on Plasmodium parasitaemia level, 1-999.99 and >1000 parasites per l of blood. Sixty one (46.9%) pupils were infected with schistosomiasis while all the children had malaria parasites in their blood samples. There was a relationship between the prevalence of infection among groups A and B (χ² =0.049; p< 0.05). Heavily infected pupils were found in group B. It was observed that participants with no S. haematobium infection had a lower mean P. falciparum parasitaemia (877.67483.32) than those with heavy schistosomiasis infection with mean parasitaemia (975.05393.43). Among those with schistosomiasis, the lowest mean P. falciparum parasitaemia was found in those with medium schistosomiasis infection (10-49 eggs /10 ml urine). The differences were however not statistically significant. It was concluded that urinary schistosomiasis- free individuals in this study may be more protected from malaria than schistosomiasispositive individuals.

Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma haematobium, Malaria- schistosomiasis co- infection, parasitaemia, south west Nigeria

Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 33 [1] March 2012, pp. 117-121