Intestinal Parasites Research Articles

Prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites among Asian schoolchildren: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intestinal protozoan parasites among Asian schoolchildren are a subject of concern due to their prevalence and potential health impact. Understanding and addressing this issue is crucial for public health in the region. We conducted a comprehensive search for articles published up to December 2023 across four databases, including Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, and Web of Science. To estimate the combined prevalence, a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied, and the statistical analysis was performed using meta-analysis packages in R version (3.6.1). This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023481146). Among 131 eligible articles, the prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites was 0.208 (95% CI = 0.180-0.238). Lebanon and Tajikistan had the highest country-level prevalence at 0.851 and 0.836, respectively, with Giardia duodenalis being the most prevalent species at 0.082. In summary, our study highlights the urgent public health issue of protozoan parasites among Asian schoolchildren due to poor sanitation and water quality. Immediate interventions are essential, considering climate and socioeconomic factors, to combat these infections and improve overall health.

Associations of Plasmodium and Intestinal Helminth Infections with Maternal Anemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Northwest Ethiopia.

Malaria and intestinal helminth infections are significant public health challenges in Ethiopia. However, little is known about the relationship of Plasmodium and intestinal helminth infections in pregnancy with maternal anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. A health-facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 526 parturients in northwest Ethiopia to investigate the associations of these parasitic infections with anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal and newborn profiles were collected using questionnaires and checklists. Maternal hematocrit was determined using the micro-hematocrit method. Malaria was diagnosed by microscopy, rapid diagnostic tests, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, whereas intestinal parasites were detected microscopically using stool wet mount and Kato-Katz preparations. Among the women, 38.6% were anemic, and 36.5% had adverse pregnancy outcomes. Single infections of hookworm (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.64-5.87) in pregnancy were associated with anemia at parturiency, whereas malaria single infections were associated with anemia (aOR = 4.28, 95% CI: 2.17-8.23) and adverse pregnancy outcomes (aOR = 2.94, 95% CI: 1.47-5.91). Moreover, intestinal helminth coinfections in pregnancy were associated with anemia (aOR = 13.3, 95% CI: 4.8-36.8), whereas malaria-helminth coinfections were associated with anemia (aOR = 7.47, 95% CI: 3.71-15.04) and adverse pregnancies (aOR = 4.75, 95% CI: 2.36-9.57). Overall, the study showed that Plasmodium and intestinal helminth infections in pregnancy are associated with anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Thus, strengthening malaria and intestinal parasite infection prevention and control practices in pregnancy is warranted to alleviate the burden of anemia and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in domestic pigs from family farms in northeastern Argentina

Domestic pigs serve as significant hosts and reservoirs for multiple parasite species, some specific to pigs and many others of zoonotic importance. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of intestinal parasites in pigs within a rural area in northeastern Argentina. We also examined demographic information, breeding conditions, and exposure factors associated with parasite presence. Pig feces were subjected to coprological examination through flotation and sedimentation techniques. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique was employed to examine oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. In total, 29 family farms with pig pens were analyzed, and 42 stool samples were collected from pigs on these farms. At the farm level, the presence of at least one parasite species was recorded in 27 rural houses (93.1%). We found that 90.4% of pigs were parasitized, with a specific parasitoses of 10 species, with a maximum of six species in a single host. The most prevalent protozoa were Entamoeba spp. (57.1%) and Blastocystis sp. (45.2%), followed by Iodamoeba butschlii (33.3%), Neobalantidium coli (21.4%), coccidia (14.2%), Cryptosporidium spp. (9.5%) and Giardia spp. (2.3%). The most prevalent helminths were Strongylidae eggs (52.3%), Ascaris spp. (14.2%) and Trichuris spp. (2.3%). We advocate for an urgent need to implement a comprehensive prophylaxis program prioritizing general hygiene practices such as regular cleaning, removal of fecal material and renewal of drinking water. Additionally, vaccination and deworming protocols should be implemented. Furthermore, this study highlights the necessity for molecular-level evaluations to detect potential zoonotic genotypes of the identified protozoa.

Urban house finches are more resistant to the effects of artificial light at night

Rapid urbanization of habitats alters the physical, chemical, auditory, and photic environments of human and wild animal inhabitants. One of the most widespread transformations is caused by artificial light at night (ALAN), but it is not clear the extent to which individuals acclimate to such rapid environmental change. Here, we tested the hypothesis that urban birds show increased resistance to harmful behavioral, parasitological, and physiological effects of ALAN. We captured house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus), a bird that commonly inhabits cities and their natural surroundings, from two urban and two rural sites in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, which differ by both degree of urbanization and by multiple orders of magnitude in ALAN intensity, and placed them in a common garden laboratory setting. We exposed half of the birds from each habitat type to ecologically relevant levels of night lighting during the subjective night and found that, while ALAN exposure reduced sleep in both urban and rural birds, ALAN-exposed urban birds were able to sleep longer than ALAN-exposed rural birds. We also found that ALAN exposure increased the proliferation rate of an intestinal coccidian parasite (Isospora spp.) in both urban and rural birds, but that the rate of proliferation was lower in urban relative to rural birds. We found that night lighting suppressed titers of feather corticosterone in rural but not urban birds, suggesting that light impairs HPA function through chronic stress or suppression of its circadian rhythmicity, and that urban birds were again resistant to this effect. Mediation analyses show that the effect of ALAN exposure in rural birds was significantly sleep-mediated for feather corticosterone but not coccidiosis, suggesting a diversity of mechanisms by which ALAN alters physiology. We contribute further evidence that animals from night-lit habitats can develop resistance to ALAN and its detrimental effects.

In vivo anthelmintic effect of Artemisia annua L. on oxyurid nematodes of laboratory mice

Oxyurids are common intestinal parasites of mammals, and they are the cause of recurrent helminthic infections, especially in children Hence natural herbal compounds are necessary for a repeatable cure. This study aimed to investigate the antinematodal effect of Artemisia annua L. n-hexane extract on oxyurids in vivo. In this study, A. annua L. n-hexane extract was applied to mice naturally infected with Syphacia obvelata and Aspiculuris tetraptera species orally at 300, 600, and 1200 mg/kg doses for seven days and the change occurring in the number of oxyurid eggs was investigated by the fecal flotation method. The nematodes in the necropsy were compared on the 8th day in all groups in terms of number, gender, and species. Albendazole (ABZ) was applied at a 5 mg/kg dose for three days as positive drug control, and corn oil was used as solvent control. The arithmetic mean of oxyurid eggs counted in fecal flotation 43.51% decrease in the drug control ABZ group and showed a 21.12% increase in the A. annua 1200 mg/kg group on the last day of application. When compared with the corn oil group, a 34.08%, 34.76% and 36.91% decrease in ABZ 5 mg/kg, A. annua 300 mg/kg and A. annua 1200 mg/kg group respectively were found in their necropsies in terms of nematode number. Non-polar compounds of A. annua L., very low concentration of ABZ and as a dilution solvent corn oil are probably responsible for this result.

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections among Food Handlers from Greater Cairo, Egypt

Abstract Background Foodborne illnesses caused by intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are among the major health problems especially in developing countries. Food handlers play an important role in transmission of IPI during manufacturing, processing, handling, and serving of foodstuff. Objectives The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of IPIs among food handlers in Greater Cairo, Egypt and their associated risk factors. Methodology A cross sectional study was designed whereby 250 food handlers attending four provision health offices from different governorates of Greater Cairo were examined. The demographic data, job title and position, health certification as well as risk factors that might increase the transmission of IPIs were collected in a pre-designed questionnaire. Stool samples were collected from all participants and examined by direct wet/iodine mounts, formol diethyl acetate and modified Ziehl_Neelsen staining techniques. Results 65 food handlers (26%) were found to have IPIs. The commonest parasites detected were Entamoeba histolytica (24.6%), Entamoeba coli (20%), Blastocystis hominis (16.9%), Giardia intestinalis (12.3%), followed by Enterobius vermicularis (10.8 %), Ascaris lumbricoides (7.7 %) and Schistosoma mansoni (3.1%). Higher, statistically significant (P < 0.001), prevalence of IPIs was found among food handlers from rural areas, having low educational levels, not having previous health certificates and among those working in popular restaurants and those having poor personal hand hygienic measures. While no differences in prevalence of IPIs was found regarding age, sex, and work experience duration. Conclusion It was concluded that implementation of governmental policies ensuring routine medical checkup and continuous professional training and education of food handlers are essential for prevention of IPIs among food handlers.

The Bibliometric Analysis of the Postgraduate Theses Written on Medical Parasitology in Türkiye.

The aim of this study was to analyze the theses prepared in the field of medical parasitology in Türkiye and to reveal the importance given to the science of parasitology in the groves of academe and to raise awareness in this field. Council of Higher Education's National Thesis Center database has been analyzed postgraduate these documents conducted in the field of medical parasitology from January 1985 to September 2022. As a result of the examining, 393 theses made in the field of medical parasitology were detected. It was determined that 52.9% of the theses prepared were master, 28% of PhD and 19.1% were the thesis of medical specialty thesis and 61.3% of the theses prepared were related to protozoa, 16.5% of helminths, 8.6% arthropods and 12.2% of intestinal parasites (helminth and protozoa). The top five types of parasites in the theses were Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania spp., Echinococcus spp., Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. respectively. In conclusion, it was of the opinion that more importance should be given to the field of medical parasitology in Türkiye.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among the pregnant women in South and South East Asian countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are a major health concern in resource-limited countries of South/South-East Asian region. Despite posing a potential threat to maternal and fetal health, there is limited data available on the actual burden of IPI among pregnant women. Through this systemic review and meta-analysis, we sought to determine the pooled prevalence of IPI and species-specific prevalence among pregnant women in this region. Subgroup analysis was done by region, stool examination technique, and study settings. Among 220 retrieved studies, 21 studies from 8 countries across the region were found eligible and included in this study. The estimated overall pooled prevalence of IPIs among pregnant women was 43.15% (95% confidence interval: 30.66-56.10). The most prevalent IPI was Ascaris lumbricoides (25.14%) and predominant protozoa was Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (6.96%). In subgroup analysis, the estimated pooled prevalence of IPIs in Nepal, India, Thailand, and Thai-Burmese Border was 40.88%, 28.33%, 55.38%, and 23.78%, respectively. Studies using Kato-Katz technique for stool examination showed the highest estimated pooled IPI prevalence (62.70%). The prevalence of IPI was found to be lower in facility-based studies (38.12%) than that of studies done in the community (66.21%). Considering the high burden of IPI in pregnant women as estimated in our review and the already established impact of IPI infection on maternal health and fetal outcomes, we recommend implementation of the preventive chemotherapy during routine antenatal checkups.

Intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors: A cross-sectional study in Sunggal District, Deli Serdang

Intestinal protozoan infections have been reported worldwide with highly variable prevalence rates, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Despite this, limited research has been conducted on intestinal protozoan infections over the past decade, both in Indonesia and specifically in North Sumatra. Therefore, further investigation into the prevalence and risk factors of intestinal parasitic infections, especially protozoan infections, in areas surrounding Medan is warranted. This cross-sectional study assessed the association between risk factors and intestinal parasitic infections among 136 residents of Sunggal District, Deli Serdang, selected using consecutive sampling. Participants underwent interviews to evaluate risk factors using a checklist and provided fecal samples, as well as livestock samples if applicable. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Results revealed a significant association between age and Protozoa infection (p = 0.001), helminth infection (p = 0.0002), and overall parasitic infection (p = 0.0001). However, no significant associations were found for other variables. Furthermore, sanitation and hygiene levels were not significantly associated with parasitic infections (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that the risk factors assessed in this study were not significantly associated with intestinal protozoan infections. Nonetheless, the prevalence of both overall parasitic infections and protozoan infections remains high, with a spectrum ranging from asymptomatic to symptomatic cases. Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay of factors contributing to the persistence of these infections in the region.

Sickle Cell Disease and Gut Health: The Influence of Intestinal Parasites and the Microbiome on Angolan Children.

Parasitic infections are a common problem in developing countries and can intensify morbidity in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), increasing the severity of anemia and the need for transfusions. It has been demonstrated that both helminths and protozoa can affect gut microbiome composition. On the other hand, the presence of specific bacterial communities can also influence parasite establishment. Considering this, our aim was to associate the presence of intestinal parasites with the results of hematological analyses and microbiome composition evaluations in a population of Angolan children with and without SCD. A total of 113 stool samples were collected, and gut microbiome analysis was performed using 16S sequencing and real-time PCR to detect eight different intestinal parasites. In our population, more than half of children (55%) had at least one parasitic infection, and of these, 43% were co-infected. Giardia intestinalis and Ascaris lumbricoides were more frequently found in children from the rural area of Bengo. Moreover, SCD children with ascariasis exhibited higher values of leukocytes and neutrophils, whereas the total hemoglobin levels were lower. In regards to the gut microbiome, the presence of intestinal parasites lowered the prevalence of some beneficial bacteria, namely: Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Cuneatibacter, Bacteroides uniformis, Roseburia, and Shuttleworthia. This study presents the prevalence of several intestinal parasites in a high-risk transmission area with scarce information and opens new perspectives for understanding the interaction between parasites, the microbiome, and SCD.

Evaluation of the prevalence of giardiasis and associated factors in Wardak province, center of Afghanistan

Introduction: Giardia intestinalis is a causative agent of gastrointestinal infections worldwide. Contaminated food, feces, drinking water (orofecal route), and factors like economic conditions, culture, and behavioral factors contribute to its transmission. Wardak province is located in the central region of Afghanistan, divided into eight districts, with a population of 656,720. Methods: A total of 274 patients with diarrhea referred to Wardak Hospital were studied, and among them, 17 individuals (10 males (58.8%) and 7 females (41.2%) tested positive for Giardia spp. by microscopy during 2023. In this cross-sectional study, socioeconomic, cultural, and symptomatology information were collected. The association between risk factors and intestinal parasitic infections was analyzed using Chi-Square and Fisher's exact tests with SPSS 26 and GraphPad Prism 8 software at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05. Results: More than half of the patients were under 30 years old. Most cases of the disease were observed in hot seasons (spring and summer). A significant correlation was found between the prevalence of giardiasis and factors such as close contact with animals, the use of unfiltered water, soil contact, and warmer seasons. No significant correlation was observed between economic status and travel history. 85% of patients had watery diarrhea, and 15% had bloody diarrhea. Conclusion: This is the first epidemiological study conducted in Wardak province, central Afghanistan. The findings reveal the prevalence of giardiasis and its interaction with multiple risk factors. This study suggests that giardiasis is an important causative factor for gastrointestinal diseases in the study region.

49. Intestinal parasitism in free-range poultry, an undervalued problem

49. Intestinal parasitism in free-range poultry, an undervalued problem

An Assessment of the Epidemiology and In vitro Susceptibility of Giardia lamblia Trophozoites and Cysts to a Variety of Plant Extracts

Giardia lamblia is a prevalent intestinal parasite that cause diarrhea among human beings and the life cycle is complicated and contains two stages for trophozoites and cysts. These stages are hardly eradicated by using prescribed drugs such as metronidazole. Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify the intestinal parasite Giardia lamblia in patients suffering from diarrhea and primary enteritis, then determine the antiparasitic activity of five plant extracts included (Zumeria majda, Thymus migricus, Artemisia santolina, Sargassum and Proskia) compared with available drug of metronidazole (MTZ) as an effective and first-time treatment against Giardia lamblia. Place and Duration of Study: It was performed between January 2023 to February 2024 at the laboratory of parasitology of three hospitals included Ramadi Teaching Hospital, Fallujah Teaching Hospital and Ramadi Teaching Hospital for Maternity and Children in Al-Anbar governorate of Iraq. A total of 1200 stool samples of patients were collected from both genders and ranged in age from 6 months to 65 years. Methodology: The stool samples were examined directly by formalin-ether test using a light microscope to confirm the presence of G. lamblia infection. Test tubes contained 1 mL of every extract at concentrations of 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µg/mL before 10,000 cysts or trophozoites were added and then the tubes were incubated at 37°C for a period of 30, 120, and 360 minutes. A light microscope set to 400x magnification, smears made from residual cyst and trophozoite material were arranged individually on glass slides. The mean number of the extracted cysts and trophozoites were assessed using vital 0.1% eosin staining. Results: G. lamblia parasite infections accounted for 47.8% of all infections; males had a greater prevalence of the parasite (49.6%) than females (45.7%). In relation to other age groups, the incidences of G. lamblia infection were higher in the age groups of 6 months to 10 years and (11-20) years, at 55.17% and 47.6%, respectively. At the lowest concentrations of 75μg/mL and 100μg/mL following exposure times of 240 min and 360 min, all five plant extracts examined in this study included Zumeria majda, Thymus migricus, Artemisia santolina, Sargassum and Proskia had a significant effect and killed 100.0% of the cysts and trophozoites of G. lamblia in contrast to the MTZ, which showed the highest reduction rates 68.4% against cysts and 75.4% against trophozoites. Conclusion: To conclude, the study findings indicate that G. lamblia infections are more common in AL-Anbar province particularly in younger people. This can be attributed to a number of factors such as improper eating and drinking habits and an absence of respect for hygiene and public health standards. Plant-based extracts showed promising in vitro activity at low doses and short times of exposure, according to the results on G. lamblia. These findings could lead to the development of a novel therapeutic alternative to treat Giardiasis infections.

Polyparasitism with soil transmitted helminthes and Schistosoma haematobium among school-aged children in Igede land, Benue state, Nigeria

Background: Polyparasitism is widespread in rural communities of the developing world, and it is a serious problem for public health. The aim of this study is to investigate the co-infection of intestinal parasites and urinary schistosomiasis among school-aged children in two local government areas of Benue State. Methods: This study collected 452 stool and urine samples from randomly selected participants and examined them using three techniques - direct wet mount, formol ether concentration, and urine sedimentation. The researchers also utilized questionnaires to assess risk factors associated with the samples. The data was then analyzed using the Chi-square statistical test to identify any significant relationships between the various factors examined. Results: The study found that 29.0% of the 452 randomly selected participants were infected with at least one parasite. 17.3% of the infected were male, while 11.7% were female. 11.7% had multiple infections, with 13.1% in males and 10.2% in females. 15.0% were infected with single parasites, 9.1% had double infections, and 2.7% had triple infections. Schistosoma haematobium was found in 1.8% of participants, with 1.1% in males and 0.7% in females. The most common parasite was Ascaris lumbricoides (6.0%), followed by hookworm (5.8%). The hookworm-Ascaris combination was the most common double infection (4.2%). While males were generally more infected, there was no statistically significant difference between males and females. Similarly, the higher infection rate in Obi (16.2%) compared to Oju (12.8%) was not statistically significant. The 11-15 age group had the highest prevalence of multiple infections (14.2%), but this was not statistically significant across age groups. Conclusion: Aggressive health education and mass drug administration are recommended in the study area. Kewwords: Polyparasitism, Igede, Oju, Obi, Parasites, Soil Transmitted Helminthes (STH), Schistosomiasis, Nigeria

Occurrence and Diversity of Intestinal Parasites on Raw Vegetables Sold in Samaru, Zaria

Vegetables are part of everyday diet. There has been more emphasis on their palatability and nutritional values, but they potentially contribute to transmitting intestinal parasites, among other pathogens, to man. This study examined 10 samples of five commonly consumed vegetables from Samaru in Zaria, Nigeria. Twenty-five (25g) fresh vegetable samples were washed in 225 mL of sterile normal saline and gently shaken for 60 seconds. The wash water was allowed to stay for 3 hr in the dark. The supernatant was carefully discarded until only about 15mL was left. The sediment was further concentrated by centrifuging at 3000 revolutions per minute for 5 minutes and examined for intestinal parasites on wet mounts using the compound light microscope. The overall occurrence of intestinal parasites on the vegetables was 22.0%. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most occurring parasite (18.0%), followed by equal 2.0% of hookworms, Trichuris trichiura and Fasciola species. Vegetable samples obtained from Mangorori Market had the highest contamination with Ascaris lumbricoides than other markets, but overall parasitic contamination was highest on vegetables obtained from ABU Community Market. Cabbage was the most contaminated (50.0%), followed by 20% each of lettuce and carrots. Samples displayed on mats during the sale had the highest contamination with Ascaris lumbricoides (23.5%), followed by those displayed on the ground (22.2%). There was higher intestinal parasitic contamination of vegetables sold in dirty surroundings (23.3%) than in relatively clean surroundings (10.0%). Sufficient orientation on the role of fresh raw vegetables in transmitting intestinal parasites should be aimed at farmers, sellers, distributors and final consumers to curb potential health risks

Association Between Intestinal Parasites and Helicobacter Pylori Infections in Patients with Gastrointestinal Complaints attending Aswan University Hospital

Association Between Intestinal Parasites and Helicobacter Pylori Infections in Patients with Gastrointestinal Complaints attending Aswan University Hospital

Prevalence of Gastrointestinal Parasites among Student of Nasarawa State University, Keffi Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Gastrointestinal parasites are significant agents of intestinal infection with public health implications worldwide. This study aimed to ascertain intestinal parasites among students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nasarawa State. A total of 138 Stool samples were collected from students in hostels and off campus and examined using the direct wet preparation and formol-ether concentration techniques. The overall prevalence of 18.84% was recorded with a higher prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in samples collected from male subjects (23.61%) compared to the female individuals (13.63%) however, there was no statically significant difference (P>0.05) in prevalence between males and females subjects. The intestinal parasites species identified and their respective prevalence were: two species of nematodes; hookworm (26.92%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (46.15), a species of cestode- Taenia saginata (15.38%) and trematode- Schistosoma mansoni (11.58%). Gastrointestinal parasitic infection was higher in male hostel (50.00%) followed by female hostel (13.46%) and the least was recorded from the student village that is those students who live off campus (11.58%) although statistically, there is no significant difference between the location (P>0.05). The study showed that there is a high prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in the study area (especially male hostel) therefore, there is a need to encourage adequate personal hygiene and sanitation. Also, further study should be carried out on the impact of parasitic infection on academic performance of the students.

Gross and microscopic changes associated with intestinal parasitism of local scavenging chickens in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

A survey of intestinal parasitism and gross and microscopic lesions in local scavenging chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) was carried out at the Maiduguri live bird market. A total of 100 intestinal samples were collected from the slaughter slab immediately after slaughter for gross, microscopic and parasitological examinations using standard procedures. Out of the 100 intestinal samples collected 56% were found to be harbouring helminthes ranging from Ascaridia spp (18%), Heterakis spp (8%), Rallietina spp (13%), Choanotaenia spp (3%) and Hymenolepis spp (3%). Others showed mixed infections of two or more parasites at 11%. The prevalence was higher in adult chickens (46%) than in young chickens (10%) and also higher in males (34%) than in females (22%). Gross lesions observed included nodule formation, haemorrhages and nodular/haemorrhagic lesions; while microscopic lesions seen included matting and stunting of intestinal villi, loss of crypts and goblet cell hyperplasia. Others were epithelial desquamation and necrosis with leucocytic aggregation and circumscribed eosinophilic aggregation in the submucosa. Conclusively, the overall prevalence of 56% of intestinal parasitism observed among local scavenging chickens in the study suggests endemicity of the disease condition in the study area. Also, age and sex appear to be risk factors associated with the incidence of intestinal parasitism in local scavenging chickens. Therefore, there is a need to apply strict biosecurity and good sanitary measures coupled with regular deworming of birds to serve as control and preventive measures. This will help to boost production, improve the economy and provide more protein to the populace.

A Systematic Review on Ethnobotanical and Pharmacological Aspects of Croton plant Codiaeum variegatum (L.)

Codiaeum variegatum (L.) known as garden croton, is a vibrant decorative plant, often identified as variegated laurel. It belongs to Euphorbiaceae, a spurge family plant with colourful leaves. Traditionally, the leaves of the Codiaeum species were used to treat a variety of ailments, including cancer, constipation, diabetes, digestive issues, external wounds, diarrhoea, fever, inflammation, intestinal worms, hypercholesterolemia, malaria, pain, ulcers, and weight loss. The juice of plant leaves induce menstruation. So, it can also be used to induce abortion. The root extract is used to relieve stomach ache and tooth ache. The leaves and shoots of the plant are reported to have varied chemical constituents like cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, cardenolides, flavonoids and steroids, which are responsible for the mentioned pharmacological activities. The goal of this article is to explore the botanical diversity, the pharmacological profile of C. variegatum as well as its chemical constituents. Variegatum (L.) is a well-known medicinal plant with nutritional and therapeutic uses, according to scientific studies. Given that, ornamental plants are an extraordinarily rich source of bioactive chemicals, more study might open the door to the development of value-added products to treat contemporary ailments.

PREVALENCE OF ECTO AND ENDO PARASITES OF WHITE CATFISH (AMEIURUS CATUS) IN UKE RIVER, KARU LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

In Uke River, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, Nigeria, a six-month research was carried out between January and June 2023 to examine the gills and intestinal helminth and protozoan parasites of White Catfish (Ameiurus catus). A total of 100 fresh Ameiurus catus fish samples of both sexes, were obtained from the fishermen and conveyed to the Zoology laboratory of Nasarawa State University for examination. The fishes were processed and examined using gills, oesophagus, intestine and rectum. Twenty-two (22) out of 100 fishes were found to be infected with helminth and protozoan parasites and a total of 31 parasites were isolated belonging to protozoa (Eimeria spp, Hexamita spp, Protoopalina spp), nematode (Procamallanus spp), trematode (Dactylogyrus spp), Cestode (Diphyllobothrium latum, Bothriocephalus claviceps) taxonomic groups. The findings indicated that Ameiurus catus intestine contained a greater quantity of fish parasites (96%). A nematode (Procamallanus spp.) was found to have the highest prevalence of 45.16%. Although the Chi square results showed no significant difference (p>0.05), the prevalence in Ameiurus catus was greater in female samples (63.64%) compared to male samples (36.36%). Fish weighing between 151-200 g (46.14%) and measuring between 21-30 cm (28.57%) had the highest percentage of parasite infection. Going forward, it is imperative to properly cook Ameiurus catus from the Uke River to prevent the spread of parasites to consumers. Additionally, it is advisable to steer clear of any potential actions that could contribute to the parasite predominance near the water body.