Appraisal of Therapeutic Impact of One Round of Mass Praziquantel Administration (MPA) on Urinogenital Schistosomiasis in Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Preventive chemotherapy through mass administration of praziquantel is the current global schistosomiasis control strategy recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). We aimed to assess therapeutic impact of one round of mass praziquantel treatment on prevalence and intensity of <i>Schistosoma haematobium</i> infection. Longitudinal studies were carried out between March and November, 2018 in Katsina-Ala, Benue State, Nigeria following one round of mass praziquantel administration by the NTDs unit of CDC, Benue State in December, 2017. A total of 3,810 pupils, aged 5-19 years old were recruitedat baseline. Prevalence and intensity were determined using standard laboratory procedures for three successive phases (phase 1- three months; phase 2- six months and phase 3- nine months post treatment periods). Overall treatment coverage was 64.86%. Prevalence of infection was recorded in all the 3 phases, with the first phase having the highest prevalence (12.30%) followed by the third phase (9.12%) and the second phase (7.60%), the difference been significant (P < 0.05). The highest intensity of infection (16 ova/ 10 ml urine) was observed in the first phase, followed by the third phase (15.10 ova/10 ml urine) and the second phase (11 ova/ 10 ml urine). More males were infected than females. Prevalence and intensity were higher in untreated pupils than treated pupils in all the survey phases. The studies therefore, call for repeated mass treatment and integrated control measures to be adopted for total elimination of schistosomiasis.