Prevalence and intensity of urinary Schistosomiasis in Ibadan south west area of Oyo state, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in Ibadan South West Area of Oyo State, Nigeria were investigated using urine sedimentation method. Out of 380 urine samples collected from school children and examined, 177 (46.6%) tested positive for Schistosoma haematobium infection. Males had higher prevalence of 25.8% than females with 20.8%. However, prevalence of infection was not significantly (p>0.05) higher in the males than the females. Mean intensity of eggs in urine was 58 eggs/10 ml. Prevalence and intensity of infection in school children were found to be significantly (p<0.05) higher in the dry season than in the wet season. Female children in the lower primary classes (one to three) have higher prevalence of infection than males in the same classes. Males in the higher primary classes (four to six) had higher rate of infection than females in the same classes. School children of age groups 8 to 10 of the lower primary and 11 to 13 of the higher primary have significantly higher prevalence among the other age groups examined but not significantly different from each other, though age group 11-13 had a higher overall prevalence of infection (22.4%). Out of 177 cases of infection, 65 (14.8%) had haematuria. Ona stream which shares a common boundary with the school was found to harbour schistosome-infected bulinid snails. Bulinus globosus and B. truncatus snails collected on exposure to light were found to shed cercariae. The close proximity of Ona stream and the after school activities of the school children in the stream could be responsible for the high prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis observed in the school children.

Key words: Urinary Schistosomiasis, Prevalence, Intensity, Ibadan South West.