Urinary schistosomiasis and anemia among school-aged children from southwestern Nigeria.

Schistosomiasis and anemia, are one of the leading global public health problem among children between age 5 and 14 years in marginalized settings. In this study, we provide prevalence and intensity data for both conditions in three southwestern states of Nigeria, where such are lacking. Epidemiological assessment involving parasitological analysis of urine and blood samples was conducted among 1783 consenting school-aged children in Ondo, Osun, Ekiti States of Nigeria. Participants' age and sex data were obtained using field forms, and statistical analysis was performed in R software with a significance level of 95%. An overall prevalence of 26.8% and 29.5% was recorded for urinary schistosomiasis and anemia, respectively. Prevalence varied by location with (40.3% and 29.8%) in Ondo (34.4% and 37.5%) in Osun and (13.4% and 20.9%) in Ekiti for urinary schistosomiasis and anemia, respectively (p=0.00). Schistosoma infections were found among males (28.7%, p=0.05) and children between the age 9-11 years (30.0%, p=0.01). About 36% of children with anemia was also infected with schistosomiasis. Children who were positive for schistosomiasis (OR:1.51; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.93; p=0.001) and between the age category 15-16 years, (OR:1.86; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.09; p<0.05) were twice likely to become anemic. Our findings have shown that children infected with schistosomiasis are twice likely to become anemic than those without infection. It is important to complement ongoing MDA programmes targeted at schistosomiasis with nutrition intervention programs for example micronutrient supplementation for better impact and cost-effectiveness.

Impact of Single Dose Praziquantel Treatment on Schistosoma haematobium Infection among School Children in an Endemic Nigerian Community.

Schistosomiasis is prevalent in Nigeria, and the foremost pathogen is Schistosoma haematobium, which affects about 29 million people. Single dose of the drug praziquantel is often recommended for treatment but the efficacy has not been documented in certain regions. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the impact of single dose praziquantel treatment on S. haematobium infection among school children in an endemic community of South-Western Nigeria. Urine samples were collected from 434 school children and 10 ml was filtered through Nucleopore filter paper before examination for egg outputs by microscopy. The prevalence was 24.9% at pre-treatment. There was no statistically significant difference for the prevalence of infection between males (14.7%) and females (10.2%), although the mean egg count for the females (9.87) was significantly more (P < 0.05) than the males (6.06). At 6 and 12 months post-treatment there was 74.4% and 86.4% reduction in the mean egg count, respectively. Interestingly, an increased prevalence of infection from 2.1% at 6 months to 7.7% at 12 months post-treatment was observed, nonetheless the mean egg count was reduced to 0.27 at 12th month from 1.98 at 6 months post-treatment. Resurgence in the prevalence rate between 6 and 12 months post-treatment with praziquantel is herein reported and the need for a follow-up treatment in endemic areas for adequate impact on schistosomiasis control is discussed.

Prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium Infection in a Neglected Community, South Western Nigeria

Purpose: Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria among parasitic diseases of socio-economic and public health importance. In Nigeria; urinary schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium is endemic. This study aimed at producing an accurate data on the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in Apojula; a neglected community located around Oyan Dam; southwest Nigeria; using parasitological and molecular techniques. Methods: Parasitological examinations were carried out on urine samples from 63 participants whose ages ranged between 7 and 63 years. Matched blood and urine samples were also screened for S. hematobium infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the schistosome Dra1 repeat. Results: of the 63 participants; 33 (52.4) were positive for heamaturia while 6 (9.5) had S. haematobium ova in their urine. PCR amplification of S. haematobium Dra1 repeat from their urine and blood samples showed that 59 (93.65) and 62 (98.4) were infected respectively. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of S. haematobium infection as detected by PCR amplification of schistosome Dra1 repeat from the urine and blood samples of the study participants. In addition; the PCR was able to detect schistosome infection in cases otherwise shown to be negative by parasitological examinations thereby making them also to receive chemotherapy