A Comparative Study of the Gastro-Intestinal Helminth Parasites Infection of Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes from Warri River, Southern Nigeria

A comparative study of the gastro-intestinal helminth parasites infection of fresh and brackish water fishes from Warri river, Southern Nigeria, was undertaken. Eight hundred (800) fishes examined during the investigation belong to 30 families, 45 genera and 56 species. The study revealed a highly significant relationship (P < 0.001) between water type and gastro- intestinal helminth parasites infection of fish. Fresh water fishes recorded a higher infection rate of 38.11% than their brackish water counterparts with 17.85% rate of infection, suggesting a strong limiting influence of water type on gastro-intestinal helminth parasites infection of fish. However, in some other selected criteria, there were similarities in the pattern of infection of fish. On feeding habits, omnivorous fishes had the highest prevalence of helminth infection (49.55%) compared to predators, planktivores, herbivores and mud/silt feeders, in that descending order. Although euryhaline fishes were more susceptible to intestinal helminth infection than stenohaline fishes, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). A seasonal pattern of helminth infection of fish was observed, with a high infection rate of 70.1% recorded during the dry season months of November to February and at low infection rate of 29.9% in the rainy season months of March to October.Keywords: gastro-intestinal, helminth parasites, fishes, Warri rive

Seasonal Variation of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among HIV-Positive Patients in Benin City, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: There are a number of conflicting studies on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in HIV infection with regards to different seasons. This study was conducted to determine seasonal influence on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in HIV-positive persons in Benin City, Nigeria.METHODS: Stool specimens from 2000 HIV-positive patients and 500 controls (HIV-negative individuals) were examined for ova, cysts or parasites using standard procedures. RESULTS: More intestinal parasitic infections were observed in the rainy season (17.6%) than the dry season (12.3%) (OR = 1.526, 95% CI = 1.184, 1.967, p = 0.0013). Male patients (18.3) had more episodes of intestinal parasitic infections than their female (13.7) counterparts (OR = 1.403, 95% CI = 1.092, 1.803, p = 0.0096).CONCLUSION: Cryptosporidium species and Strongyloides stercoralis were the only parasitic agents that were associated with rainy season.Keywords: Season, Intestinal Parasites, HIVEthiop J Health Sci. Vol. 21, No. 3 November 201

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among HIV patients in Benin City, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the presence of intestinal parasites and their correlation with CD4+ T-cell counts and demographics among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in Benin City, Nigeria. Stool specimens from 2,000 HIV-positive patients and 500 controls (HIV-negative individuals) were examined for ova, cysts, or parasites, using standard procedures. In addition, patient’s blood samples were analyzed for CD4 counts by flow cytometry. An overall prevalence rate of 15.3% was observed among HIVpositive patients while 6.2% was noted among non-HIV subjects. HIV status was a significant (PB0.0001) risk factor for acquiring intestinal parasitic infections. Male gender, CD4 count B200 cell/ml, and diarrhea were significantly associated with an increased prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among HIVpositive patients. The level of education, occupation, and source of water among HIV patients significantly (PB0.0001) affected the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most predominant parasite in both HIV-positive patients and controls. A CD4 count B200 cells/ml was significantly associated with only Isospora belli and Cryptosporidium infections. The presence of pathogenic intestinal parasites such as A. lumbricoides, hookworm, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica, Trichuris trichiura, and Taenia species among HIV-infected persons should not be neglected. Cryptosporidium species and I. belli were the opportunistic parasites observed in this study. Routine screening for intestinal parasites in HIV-positive patients is advocated.Keywords: intestinal parasites; HIV; CD4 count; Demographics; Benin Cit

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites in Edo State

Purpose: To determine the prevalence and factors responsible for the spread of intestinal parasites in Edo State and suggest strategies for their control. Methods: This prospective and cross sectional study involved 3601 (798 males, 1002 females and 1801 children) selected randomly from the 18 local government areas of Edo State. Stool samples collected from the selected participants were analysed using standard techniques. Using a structured questionnaire, factors which disposed to increase in the prevalence of intestinal parasites were investigated between April 2007 and March 2008. Results: High prevalence (11.3%) of intestinal parasites was recorded in the study. Those drinking well water had the highest prevalence, followed by those who used tap water and least among people who used borehole water. Infection rate was higher in children who lived in bushy surrounding and lower in children who lived in marshy surrounding. The highest infection rate of 10% was observed in chldren who lived in environments where refuse was indiscriminately disposed and lowest (2.5%) in adult males who inhabited environments where refuse was collected in dust bins. Children who ate outside their homes and with unwashed hands were more likely to be infected than adult males who ate at home. Conclusion: There was high prevalence of parasitic infections in the State. Factors including water source, environment, method of refuse disposal, feeding pattern, sewage disposal, socio-economic status and cultural habits were identified to be contributing to parasitic infection. Keywords: Socio-economic factors, parasitic infection, Edo state, Nigeri

Hyperendemicity of onchocerciasis in Ovia Northeast local government area, Edo State, Nigeria.

Objective: The present study investigates the prevalence of onchocerciasis in 40 communities of the LGA and provides data, which could contribute towards the control programme of the disease in the local government Area,Edo state,Nigeria.Methods: A physician performed the skin examination and thereafter a skin biopsy taken and immersed in normal saline solution in the wells of micro titration plates and allowed to stand for 24hours to allow microfilaria to emerge and then examined microscopically.Results:The prevalence of onchocerciasis was investigated amongst 40 communities in Ovia North-East LGA of Edo state, Nigeria. Of the 2020 subjects examined between March 2007 to April, 2008, 1674 (83%) of them harboured microfilaria in their skin tissues.Females had significantly (

Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Primary School Children in Rural Communities in Edo State, Nigeria

Background: Intestinal parasitic infections are a major public health problem in developing countries where majority of the affected persons are children. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and the effect of socio-demography in some rural primary schools in Ovia Northeast Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A total of 675 school children from rural settings were recruited. The faecal samples were processed using standard technique. Results: A total of 96 (14.2%) out of the 675 children had asymptomatic intestinal parasitic infection. Male gender and walking barefooted were significantly associated with asymptomatic intestinal parasitic infection (P<0.0001). Children within the ages of 14 – 16 years (P=0.0008), defaecate in nearby bushes (P=0.042), that use well/rain water (P<0.0001), don’t wash their hands (P<0.0001) and children whose fathers were bricklayers (P<0.0001) have higher prevalence of asymptomatic intestinal parasitic infections. The parasites recovered were E. histolytica, A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura, hookworm and Taenia species. A. lumbricoides had the highest prevalence (69.2%). A. lumbricoides was the most prevalent parasitic agent recovered in all age groups and the only parasitic agent that was significantly associated with gender, particularly the male gender. Conclusion: Effective treatment of infected school children as well as improved sanitary habits for prevention of soil pollution and contamination is advocated. Keywords: Intestinal parasites, primary school children Running title: Intestinal parasites in Primary School childre

The gastrointestinal helminth parasites of some scianid species (Croakers) in a Niger Delta mangrove creek, Nigeria

Sciaenid fishes (croakers), Argyrosomus regius, Pseudotolithus (Fonticulus) elongatus and Pseudotolithus (Pseudotolithus) senegalensis were isolated from fish samples collected monthly from November 2004 to June 2006 at flood tide in Buguma creek, Niger Delta, Nigeria. The fish samples were caught by the use of hooks and lines and cast nets. A total of seven hundred and eighty nine specimens comprising A. regius (12), P. (Fonticulus) elongatus (753) and P. (Pseudotolithus) senegalensis (24) were examined for gastrointestinal helminth parasites. All helminth parasites observed were nematodes. No infection was recorded in A. regius. P. (Pseudotolithus) senegalensis had the highest prevalence (41.7%), followed by P. (Fonticulus) elongatus (23.4%). A total of 57 helminth parasites were recorded, of which 54 were found in P. (Fonticulus) elongtus, and 20 in P. (Pseudololithus) senegalensis. Goezia sigalasi (Ascarididae) and Pseudanisakis sp. (Heterocheilidae) had the highest prevalence in both species of sciaenid fishes infected.Key words: Gastrointestinal helminth parasites, croakers, Sciaenidae, mangrove creek, Nigeria