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Background: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among primary school pupils in Wamakko Local Government, Sokoto State, Nigeria. Four hundred terminal urine samples were collected from primary school pupils and analysed using standard filtration technique. Results: Out of the 400 urine samples examined, 192 (48%) were found to be infected with Schistosoma haematobium. Males had a higher prevalence (49.49%) than females (43.93%), although statistical analysis indicated no significant association of S. haematobium infection with gender. The highest infection rate was recorded among pupils aged 4-6 years (62.82%) while the least was found among pupils aged 7-9 years; this did not attend significant level (p > 0.05). The occurrence of S. haematobium infection did not significantly associate with a source of drinking water and water contact activity (p > 0.05). Conclusion: This study indicates the presence of urinary schistosomiasis in the study area and that all pupils in the study area are equally exposed to the source of infection. Therefore, prompt intervention is highly advocated.

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The in vitro trypanocidal activity of aqueous extracts of some selected medicinal plants used by local herdsmen in the treatment of various animal diseases in Sokoto State, Nigeria was conducted. Trypanosoma brucei brucei were cultured using 96 well micro titer plate and maintained at 37 0 C. About 20-25 parasites per microscope field were dosed with 1, 2 and 4mg/ml of aqueous extracts of the plants and a control group without extracts. After 5 minutes incubation in Eppendorf tubes maintained at 37 0 C, the parasites survived more than four (4) hours in the absence of extract/Berenil. At 4mg/ml of the extracts 0f Terminalia catappa, Waltheria indica, Cucurbita pepo, Entada abyssinica and Ximenia Americana, complete cessation of motility of T. brucei brucei within 60 minutes was observed. However, at 2mg/ml of Waltheria indica, trypanosome motility after 20 minutes was stopped but Terminalia catappa, and Ximenia americana were found to reduce trypanosome motility at 35 and 55 minutes respectively. Only Waltheria indica reduced trypanosome motility within 25 minutes at 1mg/ml concentration. Berenil, the standard drug, caused cessation of trypanosomal motility within 60 minutes even at 1mg/ml. From the results Waltheria indica was the most effective among the extracts when compared with Berenil, and may be a potential source of compounds with trypanocidal activity.