African Journal of Parasitology Research

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni and effectiveness of Praziquantel in school children in Finchaa valley, Ethiopia

Samuel Haile¹* Lemu Golassa² and Zeleke Mekonnen²

¹College of Natural and Computational Science, Haramaya University, P. O. Box, 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.

²Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Pathology, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Jimma University, P. O. Box 378, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Accepted 06 November, 2019

Abstract

Schistosomiasis remains one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world. Approximately 80% of the estimated 200 million people infected annually world-wide live in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia where Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium are widespread. Recently, Praziquantel has been reported to show low cure rates in different parts of the word. Since it is the only drug for treatment of schistosomiasis in Ethiopia, there is a need to periodically evaluate its efficacy in different geographic settings. To determine prevalence and evaluate the effectiveness of Praziquantel against S. mansoni, a cross-sectional parasitological survey was conducted in Finchaa Sholoko Elementary School, followed by a non-randomized trial. Students who tested positive for intestinal schistosomiasis and fulfilling the criteria set were invited to take part in the efficacy study. Positive students were treated with 40 mg/kg of Praziquantel. Cure and egg reduction rate were evaluated four weeks after treatment through fecal egg count by two Kato-Katz assays on two consecutive days. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Prevalence of S. mansoni was 67.6%. From the children who completed the study (n=204), parasitological cure rate and egg reduction rate were 80.9 and 99.51%, respectively. There was a significant association between cure rate and pre-treatment infection intensity (P < 0.05), but there was no significant association observed between cure rate and age groups (P > 0.05). Praziquantel in a single dose of 40 mg/kg body weight remains efficacious despite prolonged use of the drug. However, further studies in other endemic settings including other community groups are needed.

Key words: Schistosomiasis, Schistosoma mansoni, Praziquantel, cure rate, infection intensity, Kato-Katz, effectiveness.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-005, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Epidemiology of haemonchosis in sheep and goats in Benin

Sabbas ATTINDEHOU¹*, Sahidou SALIFOU², Cyprien Félix BIAOU², Oubri Bassa GBATI³, Mama ADAMOU-N’DIAYE¹ and Louis Joseph PANGUI³

¹Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi. 01 P. O. Box 526 Cotonou, Benin.

²Laboratory of Research in Applied Biology (LARBA), UAC. 01 P. O. Box 2009 Cotonou, Benin.

³Laboratory of Parasitology-Mycology of E.I.S.M.V Dakar. P. O. Box 5077 Dakar-Fann, Senegal.

Accepted 12 October, 2019

Abstract

A helminthological study was carried out from December 2010 to November 2011 in order to establish the epidemiology of Haemonchus contortus infections in small ruminants of Benin. A total of 756 abomasums, collected from randomly selected goats and sheep from all regions of Benin has been examined. An examination of the conjunctiva’s colour has been associated with parasitic diagnosis to assess the degree of anaemia in animals. The study disclosed an endemic evolution of haemonchosis. The overall prevalence was of 55.56% (SD= 0.50) with a mean burden of 175 worms per infested animal. No significant influence could be attributed to host’s species or age. The season has been a significant variation factor (p< 0.001). The prevalence of haemonchosis was higher in wet seasons (79.41% ± 0.40) than in dry (36.06 ± 0.48 %). The worm’s burden was also higher in rainy seasons than dry. Elsewhere, a strong correlation (p<0.001) was found between the conjunctiva colour and the worm burden but with a reverse influence of the season. In rainy seasons, degrees of anaemia have been low even though worm burdens were high. Inversely, moderate worm burdens induced detectable anaemia during dry seasons.

Key words: Haemonchus contortus, epidemiology, goats, sheep, Benin.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 7 (1), pp. 001-006, January, 2020. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and speciation of hookworm in Plateau State, Nigeria

Chollom S. C.¹*, Chollom R. S.², Gbise S. D. ¹, Kaigama A. J.¹, Dyek Y. D.¹, Gideon B. A.¹, Ajayi O. T.¹, Nimbut L. B.¹, Maxwell I. K.¹, Dauda P. K.¹ and Nwankiti O. O.¹

¹Viral Research Department, National Veterinary Research Institute, P. M. B. 01 Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria.

²Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Accepted 11 October, 2019

Abstract

This study was designed to estimate the prevalence and speciation of hookworm in Plateau State. 592 faecal samples were collected from patients with abdominal discomfort from six health facilities in the state and examined for presence of parasitic eggs or cysts. Among them, 147 (24.8%) were positive for at least one parasitic egg or cyst, whereas 39 (6.6%) had hookworm eggs alone. Hookworm was found in all the localities. Langtang South had the highest prevalence (1.5%), while Shendam had the lowest (0.7%). Females were more infected with hookworm (3.9%) than males (2.7%). Age group 1 to 10 showed more positive rate (33.3%), whereas subjects <1year had the least (2.6%). However, there is no statistical difference (P > 0.05) in the prevalence rate observed with respect to gender, age and location. Among the 39 samples positive for hookworm eggs, it was determined that 23 (59.0%) were Necator americanus and 9 (23.1%) were Ancylostoma duodenale, whereas 7 (17.9%) samples contained both species when Harada-Mori larvae recovery was used. The findings showed that Plateau State has a prevalence rate of 6.6% for hookworm infections with N. americanus as the dominant specie.

Key words: Plateau State, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, Harada Mori.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (10), pp. 001-007, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and intensity of gastrointestinal parasites of domestic cats in Ode – Irele and Oyo communities, Southwest Nigeria

Oluyomi A. Sowemimo

Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun, Nigeria.

E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: +234-803-442-5965.

Accepted 22 May, 2019

Abstract

An epidemiological survey was conducted on gastrointestinal parasites among population of cats in two sub-urban communities, Ode-Irele and Oyo in Southwest Nigeria between April and September, 2008. A total of 200 faecal samples collected from domestic cats were processed and examined for eggs and cyst of parasites. The overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites obtained was 85.5%. The prevalences and intensities of parasites observed were as follows; Hookworm (57.0%; 194.0 ± 28.1epg), Toxocara cati (48.5%; 391.4 ± 101.2 epg), Isospora spp. (30.5%), Physaloptera spp. (27.0%; 59.4 ± 20.1 epg), Toxascaris leonina (23.5%; 34.6 ± 8.5 epg), Ollulanus tricuspis (21.5%; 42.1 ± 12.7 epg), Pseudophyllidia spp. (12.0%; 34.2 ± 20.7 epg), Trichuris spp. (8.5%; 12.0 ± 5.1 epg), Taenia spp. (7.5%; 103.0 ± 59.2 epg), Dipylidium caninum (5.0%; 9.6 ± 5.4 epg), Spirocerca lupi (1.5%; 1.0 ± 0.7 epg), Schistosoma spp. (2.0%; 0.9 ± 0.6 epg) and Capillaria spp. (2.0%; 9.2 ± 7.3 epg). Hookworm was the predominant species (57.0%). Concurrent infections with two or more parasites were recorded in 81.3% of the infected cats. Prevalence patterns were age-dependent, with T. cati and hookworm showing a decreasing prevalence with age of host. Cats aged 0 to 6 months showed higher prevalence of infection than older age groups. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites may continue to rise due to lack of functional veterinary clinics; hence there is the urgent need for establishment of control based program in order to reduce the prevalence of parasitic infections among the cats.

Key words: Prevalence, intestinal parasites, domestic cat, Toxocara cati, feline – zoonosis.

African Journal of Parasitology Research ISSN 2343-6549 Vol. 6 (10), pp. 001-006, October, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and characterization of hydatidosis in animals slaughtered at Addis Ababa abattoir, Ethiopia

Zelalem Fikire¹, Tadele Tolosa¹, Zelalem Nigussie¹, Chanda Macias² and Nigatu Kebede³*

¹College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia.

²Department of Biology, Howard University, 415 College Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20059, USA.

³Aklilu Lemma Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Accepted 06 September, 2019

Abstract

Hydatidosis, caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, is one of the most important helminthzoonosis in the world. The distribution of hydatidosis is normally associated with underdeveloped countries, especially in rural communities where humans maintain close contact with dogs and various domestic animals, which may act as intermediate hosts. This study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of hydatidosis and the fertility/sterility rates of hydatid cysts in cattle and sheep slaughtered in Addis Ababa Abattoir, Ethiopia. Postmortem examination, hydatid cyst characterization and questionnaire survey were conducted. In the study, 19.7% cattle and 13.47% sheep were found harboring hydatid cyst. Though it was difficult to know the exact origin of the animals, cattle brought from Harar 36%, northern Shewa 28%, Nazareth 22%, Arsi 10% and others 4% were infected. Difference in prevalence rates were highly significant (p < 0.005) between cattle and sheep. The occurrences of hydatid cyst were 48, 31.7, 16.3, 1.7 and 2.4% in cattle and 41.7, 56.7, 0.8 and 0.8% in sheep, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and heart, respectively. Of the total of 1479 hydatid cysts in cattle and 175 in sheep counted 38.2, 29.8, 7.3, and 24.7% in cattle and 64, 11.4, 1.7 and 22.9% in sheep were found to be small, medium, large and calcified cysts, respectively. Among the hydatid cysts, 55.4, 19.3 and 25.3% in cattle (n = 1479) and 22.5, 59.1 and 18.5% in sheep (n = 175) were sterile, fertile and calcified, respectively. Viability rates of 60.5% in cattle and 78.3% in sheep were observed. The rate of calcification was higher in the liver than in the lung while fertility rate was higher among the cysts of the lung for both cattle and sheep. The questionnaire survey revealed the difference in the awareness about zoonotic Hydatidosis, that is, 8, 100 and 16% in household, abattoir workers and butchers, respectively. The findings of the present study reflect the economic and zoonotic impact of hydatidosis which deserves serious attention by the various stakeholders in order to reduce losses and safe guard the public health.

Key words: Prevalence, hydatidosis, cattle, sheep, Ethiopia.

Key words: Hydatid cyst, slaughterhouse, fertile, Urmia.