Current status of urinary schistosomiasis in communities around the Erinle and Eko-Ende Dams and the implications for schistosomiasis control in Nigeria : original research

• Published in: Southern African journal of infectious diseases Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 137 - 140
• Main Authors: Akinwale, O.P., Amoo, A.O.J., Hassan, A.O., Adeleke, M.A., Gyang, P.V., Deji-Agboola, A.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Medpharm Publications 01.01.2014
• Subjects: Dams; Haematuria; Nigeria; PCR; Schistosomiasis
• ISSN: 2312-0053

Schistosomiasis is an endemic disease in many parts of the world and the disease is associated with water resource development projects, such as dams, irrigation schemes, and rice and fish farming. The present study was designed to determine the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in five communities around the Erinle and Eko-Ende Dams in Osun State, Nigeria, using dipstick-haematuria, and parasitogical and molecular techniques. A total of 462 participants were screened, of whom 46.3%, 51.1% and 61.5% tested positive when using haematuria, microscopy and PCR respectively. The highest prevalence of the infection and intensity was in Illie (Erinle Dam), while Eko-Ajala (Eko-Ende Dam) had the least. Using analysis of variance and chi-square tests, the differences in the prevalence and intensity of the infection between the five communities was statistically significant (p-value 0.05). The high prevalence and intensity of the infection of schistosomiasis around the two dams underscores the need for urgent public health measures, such as appropriate treatment and the provision of motorised boreholes.