Abstract
Helminthiasis and protozoans infections have been recognized as an important public health problem. The aim of the present study was to screen soil samples collected from 10 primary schools in the city of Dschang for the presence of soil-transmitted helminth eggs, cysts, and oocysts of protozoans. A total of 400 soil samples were collected around latrines, at playgrounds, and behind classrooms in each school. These samples were examined using the sucrose flotation method. From the result obtained, an overall contamination rate of 7.75% was observed. Five genera of nematodes (Ascaris, Trichuris, Capillaria, Cooperia, and hookworms) were identified, while neither cysts nor oocysts of protozoans were detected. The contamination rate and the number of species found were significantly different in wet season as compared to the dry season. During the rainy season, this rate was 12.5% with all the parasitic stages identified, while, in the dry season, the soil contamination rate was 3% with the presence of only two genera (Ascaris and Trichuris). This suggests that parasite infection may occur mainly in rainy season rather than in the dry season. The most common eggs were those of Ascaris with 2% and 5% contamination rates in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Also, the soils around latrines were more contaminated (11.9%) as compared to those collected behind classrooms (7.5%) and those at playground (2.5%). It was concluded that the pupils of these schools may have played a major role in the contamination of their environment. Thus, sanitary education, enforcement of basic rules of hygiene, and deworming remain a necessity in the entire population of the study area in general and in the schools in particular in order to prevent helminth infections and to ensure effective environmental health.
Highlights
Soil contamination by infective forms of intestinal parasites is the most important infection risk factor for both humans and animals
Dschang is located between latitude of 5∘20 north and longitude of 10∘30 west and at an altitude of about 1407 m. This city covers an area of 225 km2 and has a cool, mild climate of the Equatorial Guinean type characterized by two seasons: a rainy season that runs from mid-March to mid-October and a dry season from November to February
We found that the contamination of soil samples was due to 5 genera of nematodes eggs: Ascaris, Trichuris, Capillaria, Cooperia, and hookworms
Summary
Soil contamination by infective forms of intestinal parasites is the most important infection risk factor for both humans and animals. The commonest and well known of these parasites are hookworms (Necator and Ancylostoma), whipworm (Trichuris), and the common roundworm (Ascaris) [2]. They are most prevalent in man and can be found in animals. Recent estimation suggests that they infect over 1 billion, 770 million, and 800 million people, respectively These parasites have been shown to negatively impact the physical fitness and cognitive performance of the pupils [3]. Contamination of soils with infective forms of parasites may be an important source of infection and constitutes a great risk factor for human infections, especially for small children aged below 12 years because of their vulnerability to 9∘ 0 0 E
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