Prevalence of Human Intestinal Nematode Parasites in Three Rural Communities of the Niger Delta, Nigeria

Abstract

Infection with intestinal nematode parasite is one of the most important neglected parasitic infection in our local area. The aim of this study was to determine the current status and prevalence of human intestinal nematode parasite in three rural communities of the Niger Delta in Nigeria namely Rumuewhor, Ubimini and Elibrada. The study design was school-based with another collection point at the Primary Healthcare centres of each community. Samples were collected monthly from children and adults from Rumuewhor, Ubimini and Elibrada: three rural communities of the Niger Delta from October 2016 to April 2017.  One thousand bottles were issued to subjects of which four hundred (400) faecal samples were obtained. These were examined for nematode parasites using saline wet mount technique. Of the 400 samples examined 220 (55%) were positive for Ascaris, Trichiuris and Hookworm species. The age group 1-10 years old with 72.1% was the highest prevalence among the groups followed by age group 11-20 years (63.2%). The age 40+ years had zero prevalence. There was no gender and community difference (p < 0.05) in percentage infection. Poly-parasitism (co-infection) was recorded as Ascaris / Hookworm (AS/HK), Ascaris / Trichiuris (AS/TT) and Hookworm / Trichiuris (HK/TT) combinations in the study area. This was in decreasing order  of AS/TT > HK / TT  > AS / HK. This study has revealed that intestinal nematode parasites Ascaris, Trichiuris and hookworms were found with higher prevalence in the children of age 1 - 10.  The nullity of polyparasitism in one of the communities (Ubimini) suggests unequal exposure to the infective stages which requires further investigation. The significantly higher prevalence of hookworm indicates environmental faecal contamination, coupled with the damp humid tropical soil that provides a good growth factor.