Prevalence of Intestinal Protozoan Parasites Infection among Primary School Pupils in Bosso Local Government Area, Niger State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia among primary school pupils in four communities of Bosso Local Government Area in Niger State, Nigeria. Stool samples from 250 pupils were collected and examined for Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia using formol ether concentration technique. Out of the 250 samples analyzed, 115 (46%) for either Entamoeba histolytica or Giardia lamblia or both. Ninety (36.0%) subjects were positive for Giardia lamblia while 46 (18.4%) subjects had Entamoeba histolytica. Single species infection was seen in 78 (67.8%) of the infected pupils whereas 47 (40.9%) were infected with both parasites. The age group (9-10) years had the highest rates of infection of 14 (21.5%) and 37 (56.9%) for G. Lamblia and E. histolytica respectively. Males had the highest rate of infection (53.5%) compared to the females with (46.3%). Poverty, ignorance and poor environmental sanitation were factors found to be associated with the high prevalence rates recorded.

Survey of nosocomial gastrointestinal protozoa infections among hospitalized patients of a tertiary and a secondary hospital in Awka, Anambra state, Nigeria

“…This overall prevalence of 14.8% is comparable to the 19.3% reported in southwest Nigeria by Hassan et al, (2018). However, the result is higher than earlier Mohammed et al, (2015) and Tyoalumun et al, (2016) who also reported Entamoeba histolytica as the predominant parasite 36.0% followed by Giardia lamblia 18.4% and 51.0%, 29.0% respectively. This result however disagrees with the work of Belkessa et al, (2021) that reported Blastocystis 15.8% in Algeria as the most seen protozoa parasite while Atu et al, (2014) reported Giardia lamblia 19.7% as the predominant protozoa parasite with Entamoeba histolytica as the least seen protozoa parasite in "Zone C" area of Benue state, north central Nigeria.…”

“…These protozoan infections cause diarrheal illness (Shinkafi and Muhammad, 2017), intestinal obstruction, anaemia, retarded growth, vitamin A deficiency, malnutrition and impaired mental health (Wale and Gedefaw, 2022). Medical experts have documented intestinal parasitic infections as being responsible for abdominal cramps, nausea (Tombang et al, 2019), increased proteinenergy malnutrition, malnutritional anaemia (Mohammed et al, 2015), loss of iron due to blood loss, decreased appetite and food intake, vomiting, competition for nutrients, amnesia, physical activity, dehydration, diarrhea and fever (Tyoalumun et al, 2016)…”

Prevalence of hospital acquired gastrointestinal protozoa parasites among in-patients of a missionary and private hospital in Awka, Southeastern Nigeria

“…Gender wise, nosocomial protozoa infection was higher in males 15.8% than females 7.3%. This is in-line with the submissions made by Mohammed et al (2014) and Hameed & Alyazeedi, (2020) who also reported higher prevalence among the male gender than females. However, this result is in contrast to the work of Ishar et al (2022) that reported higher infection in female patients (16.2%) than male patients (13.3%).…”

“…These parasitic infections are highly ubiquitous and are known to constitute the greatest single cause of illness globally (Akinbo et al, 2011). Infections are mainly transmitted by means of ingestion of food and water contaminated by protozoan cysts (Hadiza et al, 2019;Atu et al, 2014) as well as from person to person (Mohammed et al, 2014). Risk factors such as poor healthcare delivery, poverty, overcrowding, lack of safe drinking water, weather conditions and improper sanitary conditions and habits greatly influence distribution of gastrointestinal protozoa parasites (Ishar et al, 2022;Duedu et al, 2015).…”

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections and Associated Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Risk Factors among School Children in Mwea Irrigation Scheme, Kirinyaga County, Kenya

“…Studies have shown that Giardia intestinalis and Entamoeba histolytica are the most common pathogenic intestinal protozoa in temperate and tropical countries, especially among children and the elderly, causing severe diarrhea. Transmission of these pathogenic protozoa is by consumption of contaminated water and food [7,8]. Globally, an estimated 400 million school children are the worst affected by intestinal parasitic infections and due to the similar nature of transmission cycles, coinfections are common [9,10].…”