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The epidemiology of Ascaris lumbricoides and other soil-transmitted helminths in primary school children from Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2009

Celia V. Holland ,
S. O. Asaolu ,
D. W. T. Crompton ,
R. C. Stoddart ,
R. Macdonald  and
S. E. A. Torimiro
Celia V. Holland
Affiliation:
1Department of Zoology, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
S. O. Asaolu
Affiliation:
2Department of Zoology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
D. W. T. Crompton
Affiliation:
3Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland
R. C. Stoddart
Affiliation:
3Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland
R. Macdonald
Affiliation:
3Department of Zoology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, Scotland
S. E. A. Torimiro
Affiliation:
4Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
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Summary

An epidemiological survey of intestinal helminthiases was conducted on 766 primary school children aged 5–16 years from Ile-Ife, Nigeria. On the basis of stool examinations, the prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm and Strongyloides stercoralis was 88·5, 84·5, 33·1 and 3% respectively. Intensity of infection was measured indirectly by egg counts for each species of helminth and also by counting worms passed after chemotherapy in the case of A. lumbricoides. The influence of host age and sex on infection levels was assessed. Relationships between the intensities of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and hookworm in individual children were identified. After anthelmintic treatment with levamisole, the frequency distribution of A. lumbricoides per host and the relationship between parasite fecundity and worm burden were investigated.

Keywords

Ascaris lumbricoidesTrichuris trichiurahookwormStrongyloides stercoralisprevalencehelminthiasesepidemiology
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 99 , Issue 2 , October 1989 , pp. 275 - 285
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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