Prevalence and Intensity of Infection of Gastrointestinal Helminths of Inmates in the Bamenda Central Prison, North West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Helminths are soil transmitted nematodes with life cycles that involve no intermediate host or vector and are among the most prevalent of chronic human infections worldwide. The main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and intensity of infection of gastrointestinal helminths among inmates in the Bamenda Central Prison, Mezam Division, North West Region of Cameroon. Three hundred and ninety three (393) stool samples were collected from (385 males and 8 females) inmates aged 16 to 84 years in 14 Cells inside the prison between a period of September 2014 and February 2015. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of stool samples were carried out using the Flotation and McMaster techniques respectively. Of the 393 number of stool samples examined, 27 (6.87%) persons were positive with at least one helminth infection. From the results obtained, three species of nematodes were detected with a prevalence rate of 5.08% for Necator americanus (Hookworm), 1.27% for Ascaris lumbricoides and 0.51% for Trichuris trichiura. Out of the 385 stool samples collected from males, 26 (6.61%) were positive for nematode infections. Amongst females, only one had a nematode infection with a prevalence rate of 0.26%. The mean intensity for Necator americanus, Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura was 370±611.81, 130±115.11 and 75±35.35 egg per gram of faeces respectively. The degree of infection was light for both Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, and moderate for Necator americanus. The trend of infection was low in Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura, but high in Necator americanus. The prevalence of these parasites was very high in cells A and B than in the other cells. Multiple infections were more common amongst the inmates than single infections with the older inmates more infected than the younger ones. These results showed that gastrointestinal helminths vary in relation to different Prison cells and age of the inmates. There should therefore be need to educate the prison population on Health education and practice of hygienic habits, in order to fight effectively against these diseases in the inmate community.