Abstract
This study accessed the dynamics of urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in Nkalagu Community. A total of 500 mid-day urine samples were collected and transported to Microbiology Laboratory, Ebonyi State University, for analysis. 10ml each of the urine samples was centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 5 minutes. Transmission potential of snail intermediate host of Schistosomes collected from different sampling station at the transmission sites within the study community was equally accessed. The snail species collected were placed individually into a clean beaker with little quantity of water and then subjected to shedding light for 2 hours. Data obtained were entered in excel spread sheet and analyzed using chi square test. The result obtained shows that 205 (41%) out of 500 individuals examined were excreting S. haematobium ova in their urine. The highest prevalence of infection (23%) was found among 11-20-year age groups. Males were more infected (25.4%) than their female counterparts (15.6%), although this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A total of 283 snails belonging to two Bulinus species (B. globosus and B. truncatus) were collected from the four sites sampled. Bulinus globosus recorded the highest species abundance (177) with the highest occurrence in site A. 52 (18.4%) out of 283 snails collected were infected with cercariae, and the highest cercariae infection (12.0%) was recorded among B. globosus. With prevalence of 41% among the human population and the prevalence of 18.4% patent infection among the snail intermediate hosts, urogenital schistosomiasis is still a public health problem in the study area and falls within the WHO classification of endemic area. Public health campaign is recommended in order to educate the people on the mode of transmission and control of the disease.
Highlights
Urinary schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma
Several freshwater habitats intersect the study area, some of which include ponds, streams, dams, and rivers. These water bodies form the major source of water supply to the residents of the study area. During both wet and dry seasons, activities increase around these water bodies as people converge to use them for domestic, agricultural and recreational activities all of which could predispose them to urinary schistosomiasis
A survey of the abundance and species distribution of the snail intermediate host of urogenital Schistosomiasis around the fresh water bodies in the study community showed a total snail population of 283 snails belonging to two species (Bulinus globosus and Bulinus truncatus)
Summary
Urinary schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by the blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma. The disease is endemic in 76 countries in the Middle East and most of the African countries [1] It is one of the major public health problems facing humanity, with severe and economic consequences [2]. It is the most prevalent of waterborne diseases [3]. Urinary schistosomiasis being a water-based disease is spread through contact with water in which snail habouring and shedding the infective stage (cercariae) of the parasite (schistosome) are present [6, 7]. Information on presence of cercariae in water is important when only one of many snails is infected yet capable of shedding enough cercariae to maintain high endemicity [18]
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