No abstract

HIGHLIGHTS  Parasitic contaminations were found in 14.3% of fruit and 13.8% of vegetable samples.  Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common parasitic contaminant in both fruit and vegetable samples.  Fresh fruits and vegetables consumed in Bauchi, Nigeria are the major sources of parasitic infections.

No abstract

Schistosomiasis is endemic in the Bauchi area of Nigeria but little information is available on transmission patterns on basis of which an effective strategy for control can be developed. Consequently, a longitudinal study on the population dynamics of freshwater snails was under taken in 10 sites selected after a preliminary study. Three schistosome intermediate host snails namely Bulinus globosus, Bulinus truncatus and Biomphalaria pfeifferi all of which carried patent infections were encountered. The population of infected snails showed similar patterns of fluctuation among the different sites. Population density generally increased following the rains and peak densities occurred during the last part of the raining season and/or beginning of the dry season. This was followed by a decline during the dry season owing to an increase in temperature and dessication in some sites. Transmission was observed to be generally focal. In the temporary habitats, transmission was highly seasonal having a short duration of three months spanning from October to December. However, in the few perennial habitats, there was prolonged transmission extending from October of one year to March of the succeeding year. Findings of this study would be invaluable in planning and implementation of schistosomiasis control in Bauchi area, Nigeria.

Au Nigéria, les informations sont rares en ce qui concerne la distribution et les relations avec l'écologie des mollusques d'eau douce en tant que vecteurs de certaines helminthoses. Au cours de leur enquête, les auteurs ont dénombré cinq espèces dont la présence et la distribution ne semblent pas affectées par le milieu. Les recherches se poursuivent afin de mieux connaître l'interaction des différents composants de l'environnement.

Snail study was conducted in Jalingo and

schistosomiasis is endemic and remains a life-threatening problem in Nigeria, especially among communities that come in frequent contact with water bodies. Information on the level of endemicity varies from place to place and is vital for control purposes. There is a paucity of such data for the Kiri reservoir and environs. A longitudinal study was undertaken in 7 communities surrounding the reservoir from 2018 to 2019 to assess the prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis. A total of 688 urine samples were assayed for schistosome ova using the sedimentation technique. Out of these, 296 (43%) were positive for Schistosoma heamatobium ova. Males were significantly more infected than females (p<0.05). Infection was also significantly higher in younger than older individuals (p<0.05). There was a significant relationship between the prevalence of infection and distance from the reservoir, occupation as well as the level of education of individuals. With the observed level of endemicity, mass chemotherapy, provision of potable water and health education are advocated as mitigation measures that will reduce endemicity and curtail the further spread of the infection.