Parasitological surveys in the Jos Plateau, Nigeria.

Abstract

Surveys for schistosomiasis, intestinal parasitic infections and filariasis were carried out in 3 villages of the Jos Plateau, Nigeria, in the period between February and March, 1985. Of 668 fecal samples, 66.8% were found to harbour parasitic eggs and protozoa. The overall prevalence of parasitic infections among villagers was as follows : hookworm, 40.3%; Ascaris lumbricoides, 9.1%; Strongyloides stercoralis, 0.3%; Trichuris trichiura, 0.4%; Schistosoma mansoni, 18.9%; Taenia sp., 0.1%; Hymenolepis nana, 0.1%; and cysts of Entamoeba histolytica, 6.7%; Entamoeba coli, 31.4%; Iodamoeba butschlii, 11.1%; Endolimax nana, 2.5%; Chilomastix mesnili, 1.6%; Giardia lamblia, 1.5%. Hookworm was the predominant helminth, and the infective larvae of Necator americanus were found in 6 pupils using filter paper-cultures. The prevalence rates of hookworm infection varied significantly with villages; 53.9% at Sop, 33.3% at Jebu and 6.0% at Maigemu. Of the 344 inhabitants, 5.2% and 13.4% were found to harbour microfilariae of Loa loa and Dipetalonema perstans, respectively. Factors which may have contributed to the spread of these parasitic infections on the Jos Plateau are discussed.