Entamoeba histolytica infection among students living in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Hostels, Awka, south-eastern Nigeria

Abstract

A cross sectional survey was carried out to determine the prevalence of E. histolytica among students living in three hostels of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, between January- April 2007. Fresh feaces were collected and examined from a total of 460 students. Direct smear technique was used for identification of the trophoziote or cysts in stool samples. Out of the total of 460 stool samples examined, 118 (25.7%) were infected with E. histolytica. Mgbajaka Hostel recorded a prevalence of 17.3% while the prevalence of 36 and 23.7% came from Lan Hostel and University Hostel respectively. Infection was higher in females (26.9%) than in males (24.2%). However difference in infection between sexes was not significant (÷2 cal = 0.48, ÷2 tab = 3.84, df = 1, p< 0.05). The soft stool samples had more parasites (58.8%) than the formed stool (19.9%) and this was significant (÷2 cal = 45.66, ÷2 tab = 3.84, df = 1, p< 0.05). Most students patronize road side food vendors with doubtful amoebiasis condition. The study shows that E. histolytica could be found in human communities like university hostels. Management of the refectories by university authorities as was done in the seventies and eighties is recommended among others.

Keywords: Entamoeba histolytica, trophozoite, students, prevelence, omoebiasis, refectories.