Prevalence of soil-transmitted helminths in primary school playgrounds in Edo State, southern Nigeria

Abstract

SummarySchoolchildren in primary schools are mostly at risk of acquiring soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infections due to their habits (geophagy, onychophagy and playing with barefoot). Profiling soil parasites on school playgrounds is expected to provide an insight to an array of parasites schoolchildren are constantly at risk of acquiring; and this information could guide on intervention programmes. Soil samples from sixteen primary school playgrounds in Edo State (South-South, Nigeria) were collected over a six-month period both in the dry (January, February and March) and wet (May, June and July) seasons in 2018 and early 2019. Samples were processed and analysed following standard parasitological procedures. Of the 576 soil samples collected, 318(55.2 %) were positive with one or more soil parasites. Generally, the predominant parasites recovered from the total number of soil samples collected were: Ascaris 127(22 %), Strongyloides 111(19.27 %) and hookworm 50(8.68 %). Ascaris was most preponderant in the dry season, while Strongyloides was the most occurring in the wet season. The mean differences in the parasite load for Ascaris and hookworm between dry and wet seasons were not significant; while for Strongyloides it was higher in the wet than dry season. These results could be a consequence of observed poor state of toilet/sanitary facilities as well as the lack or poor state of basic infrastructure like proper drainage and waste disposal systems in the host communities. There is therefore urgent need to interrupt the STHs transmission cycles in the environment and possibly in schoolchildren by instituting sustainable intervention programmes within schools located in STHs endemic regions like southern Nigeria.

Occurrence of Soil-transmitted Helminths from Selected Dumpsites and Farmlands in Calabar, Nigeria

“…While A. lumbricoides was more prevalent during the dry season, S. stercoralis was more prevalent during the wet season. This is similar to the findings reported by Isaac et al [25] in Edo State, Nigeria. It was stated that larvae of S. stercoralis thrive under optimal conditions which include soil temperatures between 20 to 28ºC and high moisture, which is likely the case during the wet seasons in most parts of Southern Nigeria.…”

Rate of Soil Contamination by Soil Transmitted Helminths in Relation to the Awareness Status of Pupils in Primary Schools of Penka-Michel, West-Cameroon

“…Irrespective of village and school, Ascaris sp eggs were the most common and predominant among the seven genera of nematode eggs identified. This is in line earlier reports elsewhere [33,32,13] and may be explained by the fact that Ascaris eggs are resistant to harsh environmental conditions and are laid in rather large numbers given the high fecundity of Ascaris (200.000 eggs/day/female) [29] and their high prevalence among pupils [4]. The scanty occurrence of Cooperia sp, Nematodirus sp and hookworms eggs may be explained by their life cycle and infective form.…”

“…All the STH eggs identified were potential cause of zoonotic diseases except one (Nematodirus sp). Ascaris sp, Trichuris sp and hookworm which have been previously reported elsewhere [32,13,34] are of public health importance. Toxocara sp, Capillaria sp, Cooperia sp and Nematodirus sp are of animal origin.…”

“…For instance in humans, A. caninum infection may leads to eosinophilic enteritis while A. braziliense and T. canis can cause cutaneous larva migrans without intestinal infection [11,12]. These parasites are under-diagnosed due to sundry reasons such as the fact that medical personnel are largely unfamiliar with the identity of such parasites [13]. Although zoonotic and human STH infections symptoms often present very similar clinical pictures, they sometimes require different diagnostic and treatment approaches [14].…”

Prevalence of Geohelminths among Primary School Children in Edoh Community, Esit Eket Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

“…Geohelminths are a group of soil -transmitted intestinal parasites (helminths) which are responsible for several diseases in humans [1]. Some common geohelminths are roundworm (Ascaris lumbricoides), hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale), whipworm (Trichuris trichiura) and threadworm (Strongyloides stercoralis); these parasites are among the Neglected Tropical Diseases(NTDs) identified by the World Health Organization [2].…”