Intestinal Parasites among Waste-Handlers in Jos Metropolitan Area of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

Solid waste management is associated with health hazards. The objective of the study was to describe and quantify the type of parasitic infections among waste handlers using formol-ether concentration technique. Stoll egg count method was adopted in the quantitation of the cysts and eggs. The frequency of parasitic infestation among waste-handlers were as follows: technical staff, (53.3%) drivers, (81.8%) refuse-van loaders (69.3%), street sweepers (63.5%) and barrow-pushers 80.0%. Entamoeba histolytica was found in 18.2% of drivers, 3.5% refuse-van loaders and 10.0% of barrow pushers. Giardia lamblia was detected in 10.0% of barrow-pushers alone. About 2.3% of van-loaders were infected with Balantidium coli. Ascaris lumbricoides eggs were detected in 5 (16.7%) technical staff, 14 (15.9%) van-loaders, 3 (15.0%) barrow-pushers, 11(14.9%) street-sweepers and 3 (13.6%) drivers. Ancylostoma duodenale infected 7 (31.8%) drivers, 24 (32.4%) street-sweepers and 6 (30.0%) barrow-pushers. About 3 (10.0%) technical staff, 9 (10.2%) refuse-van loaders, 8 (10.8%) street sweepers and 2 (10.0%) barrow-pushers were infected by Schistosoma mansoni respectively Hymenolepis nana infected only 3 (10.0%) of technical staff, while Trichuris trichiura eggs were found in 5 (4.6%) refuse van-loaders, 4 (5.4%) street-sweepers and 1 (5.4%) barrow-pushers. Parasite egg intensity was, however, low with Ascaris lumbricoides showing 86,226 +795 eggs per gram (epg),Ancylostoma duodenale 17,352+156 epg, Trichuris trichiura 1295+219 epg and Hymenolepis nana 265+44 epg. Waste disposal workers are at high risk of infection with different species of intestinal parasites. Sahel Medical Journal Vol.7(1) 2004: 13-17