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Public health implications of soil contaminated with helminth eggs in the metropolis of Kaduna, Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2008

B.V. Maikai ,
J.U. Umoh ,
O.J. Ajanusi  and
I. Ajogi
B.V. Maikai*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
J.U. Umoh
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
O.J. Ajanusi
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
I. Ajogi
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
*
*E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Environmental and socio-cultural variables influencing the distribution of helminth eggs in 608 soil samples were studied in 14 playgrounds that differ in socio-economic status in Kaduna metropolis, Nigeria, using a modified sieving method and a sucrose flotation medium of specific gravity 1.27. Helminth eggs were found in 62% of the soil samples and the distribution was as follows: Toxocara spp. 50.4%, Taenia spp./Echinococcus spp. 36.9%, Dipylidium caninum 26.3%, Ancylostoma spp. 9.0%, Ascaris spp. 7.2%, Trichuris spp. 3.7% and Ascaridia spp. 1.9%. A higher prevalence (68.1%) was recorded during the dry harmattan period while in the rainy period the rate was 58.1%. Mean egg densities ranged from 1.11 ± 0.32 to 3.92 ± 2.47 in areas moderately rated. Samples from site 14, which was highly rated, were more contaminated (78.1%) than those collected from other sites, while the intensity of contamination (14.0%) was more in moderately rated site 4 than in the rest of the sites. There were significant associations between the prevalence of helminth eggs and rainy period of the study (odds ratio (OR) = 0.38; 95% confidence interval (CI) on OR: 0.20 < OR < 0.70), presence of dogs (OR = 0.56; 95% CI on OR: 0.37 < OR < 0.85) and grass (vegetation) (OR = 1.44; 95% CI on OR: 1.03 < OR < 2.04) in the sites. On the other hand, there was no association between the prevalence of helminth eggs and the dry period of the study, presence of refuse in the playgrounds, topography of playgrounds, depth of sample collection and socio-economic status of people in playgrounds (P>0.05). This study shows that the period of study, the presence of dogs and vegetation influence the prevalence of helminth eggs in soil in Kaduna metropolis.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 82 , Issue 2 , June 2008 , pp. 113 - 118
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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