Prevalence, Peculiarities and Patterns of Urogenital Schistosomiasis and Hematuria in Owena Reservoir Area, Ondo East Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Schistosomiasis, Leprosy, Leishmaniasis, Malaria, Trypanosomiasis and Filariasis are the six major tropical diseases, specially targeted for control by the Special Program for Research and Training on Tropical Diseases of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Bank and World Health Organization. Out of the above six diseases, schistosomiasis is the second most important tropical diseases, second only to malaria. The distribution of schistosomiasis cuts across 76 countries in Africa, Latin America and Asia. Schistosoma hematobium endemicity cuts across 54 countries. Aim: To study the prevalence, peculiarities and patterns of urogenital schistosomiasis and hematuria in Owena Reservoir Area for an effective, affordable and sustainable schistosomiasis control in the area. Materials and methods: Owena Reservoir Area consists of Owena, Kajola and Baiken communities. A school-based cross-sectional technique was used for urine collection and quantification of Schistosoma hematobium eggs which involved 624 pupils in March 2014 and 591 pupils in April 2015. Risk factors, socio-demographic variables were collected using questionnaires. Urine samples were examined for Schistosoma hematobium eggs using sedimentation by gravity cum centrifugation. The urine samples obtained from the pupils were divided into two separate 30ml universal sterling plastic bottles with conical bottom. The first of the two 30ml universal sterling plastic bottles were examined for Schistosoma hematobium eggs using sedimentation by gravity cum centrifugation. The second of the two 30ml universal sterling plastic bottles were assessed for gross hematuria through visual observation of bloody urine while non-bloody samples were examined for micro-hematuria using one strip of commercially prepared chemical reagent strips COMBUR-9 prepared and marketed by Acun Laboratory USA which was dipped into each urine sample and the color change was matched with standard by the side of the container of the reagent strips. Results: Out of the 624 pupils examined in March 2014, 256 (41.0%) were positive for Schistosoma hematobium eggs in urine, while in April 2015, 381 (64.5%) out of 591 were positive. Prevalence of hematuria in the three communities shows that in Owena community the age group 21 – 30 had the highest prevalence (49.2%); in Kajola, the age group 5-10 had the highest prevalence (46.2%); while in Baiken community, the age group 5-10 had the highest prevalence (55.5%) – with 95% Confidence Interval in all cases. Conclusion: Macrohematuria was identified as a sensitive and specific diagnostic technique for identifying people infected with Schistosoma hematobium in the three communities. This parameter may be recommended as a cost saving diagnostic approach during future control efforts, with reference to the April 2015 peculiarities and patterns of infection shown by this study.