Abstract
Intestinal parasitic infections constitute a global health burden causing clinical morbidity. Parasitic protozoa and helminthes are responsible for some of the most devastating and prevalent diseases of human. The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites among patients attending Federal Medical Center and Specialist Hospital Yola. A total of 438 stool specimens was collected randomly from the patients (204 male and 234 female) and examined by saline wet mount procedure and formalin-ether concentration technique. 155 (35.4%) patients were found to be positive for intestinal parasites giving a breakdown of male, 70 (34.3%) and female, 85 (36.3%). There was no statistical difference in the infection between the genders. Ten parasites species, namely Ascaris lumbricoides, Schistosoma mansoni, Ancylostoma duodenale, Strongyloides stercoralis, Fasciola hepatica, Hymenolepis nana, Enterobius vermicularis, Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, and Giardia lamblia were observed in the stool samples. The distribution of species in relation to gender shows that the male participant had E. histolytica 45 (54.9%) followed by A. lumbricoides 19 (23.2%), E. coli, 11 (13.4%), S. mansoni 3 (3.7%), G. lamblia 2(2.5%), A. duodenale 1(1.2%) and E. vermicularis 1(1.2%). In the female participants, E. histolytica has the highest with 43 (44.8%) followed by A. lumbricoides 20 (20.8%), E. coli, 9 (9.4%), S. mansoni 9 (9.4%), A. duodenale 7(7.3%), G. lamblia 3(3.1%), H. nana 2(0.8%) while F. hepatica has the least of 1 (1.0%) The prevalence of intestinal parasites could be attributed to ignorance, exposure factors and negligence to prevention measures. Public enlightenment should be embarked upon.Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia
Highlights
A parasite is an organism that is entirely dependent on another organism refers to as its host, for all its metabolic requirements
The prevalence rate according to educational level shows that the highest prevalence rate was the participant with No formal education with 47(51.6%) this was followed by the participant who had primary education 34 (42.5%) and tertiary education with 34 (29.8%)
Namely Ascaris lumbricoides, Schistosoma mansoni, Ancylostoma duodenale, Strongyloides stercoralis, Fasciola hepatica, Hymenolepis nana, Enterobius vermicularis, Entamoeba histolytica, Entamoeba coli, and Giardia lamblia were observed in the stool samples of the participants
Summary
A parasite is an organism that is entirely dependent on another organism refers to as its host, for all its metabolic requirements. Intestinal helminthes and protozoan parasites are major public health problems in developing countries (Lwambo et al, 1999; Handzel et al, 2003). Parasitic protozoa and helminthes are responsible for some of the most devastating and prevalent diseases of human. The infective stage of the intestinal protozoans (Entamoeba histolytica, Girdia lamblia, and Balantidium coli) and some parasitic helminthes are the cysts, which usually get into the human body either through drinking contaminated water, food, fruit, vegetables, to mention a few. Intestinal parasitic infection can be controlled through the maintenance of proper personal hygiene, creating awareness to the people on the factors associated with the diseases. The study was conducted to determine the species and prevalence of human intestinal parasites among patients attending Federal Medical Center and Specialist Hospital Yola, Adamawa state
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