Urinary schistosomiasis and associated microbial infections among pre-school aged and school-aged children in Ipogun, Nigeria

Abstract

Urinary schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by digenean trematode. In Nigeria, Schistosoma haematobium has been incriminated as the cause of urinary schistosomiasis infection and has been reported from different parts of the country with high prevalence especially in Ondo State. Endemicity in Ipogun village is over two decades due to cultural beliefs and behavioural attitude of the community dwellers to the disease. The study assessed the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and associated microbial infections among Pre-School Aged and School-Aged Children (SAC) in Ipogun, Ondo State. Urine samples were collected from 492 children in the village and analysed using the centrifugation method. Similarly, urine samples were cultured using standard microbial methods and examined for the presence of bacteriuria and fungi. The results showed that out of the 492 urine samples examined for parasitology, 306 (62.2%) were positive for urinary schistosomiasis with mean intensity of 22.3 in the sampled population. Haematuria was more prevalent among the male pupils (n =190; 12.2%) than the female (n =116; 6.5%). The prevalence peaked within the age group 16-20 at 82.2%. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella sp were isolated as bacteria and Aspergillus sp and Candida sp as fungi solely from the schistosomiasis positive urine samples. This study revealed the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in the study area and the predisposition of the infected children to microbial infections. Results suggest routine uninterrupted chemotherapeutic control and the consideration of antibiotics in the treatment regime to control opportunistic microbial infections.