Department of Zoology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Department of Zoology, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria
Nwabueze, A.A., Department of Zoology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria; Opara, K.N., Department of Zoology, University of Uyo, P.M.B. 1017, Uyo, Nigeria
Following frequent reports of haematuria among school children in Ndokwa-East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria, a longitudinal pre-control survey of urinary schistosomiasis was conducted in 10 riverine communities of the local government area from March 2003 to February 2005. School children aged between 5 and 12 years were examined for Schistosoma haematobium ova in their urine. Of the 580 and 1032 children examined in the first and second year of study respectively, there was a significant (p<0.05) increase in prevalence from 21.9% to 91.4%, geometric mean intensity of infection increased significantly (p<0.05) from 14.4 to 26.0 eggs-1 10 mL urine, while macrohaematuria also increased from 1.2% to 56.5%. Prevalence and intensity of infection were significantly (p<0.05) higher in males than in females. There was a seasonal variation in prevalence, which was significantly (p<0.001) higher in dry season than rainy season. Four species of snails were encountered with Bulinus (physopsis) globosus predominating. The road and bridge construction project which created a favourable environment for snail growth and proliferation in addition to poor sanitary habit, lack of potable water and ignorance of the inhabitant of these riverine communities may have contributed to the recent outbreak.
drinking water; article; Bulinus; child; child care; construction work; controlled study; environmental exposure; environmental factor; environmental sanitation; epidemic; female; geometry; health survey; hematuria; human; longitudinal study; major clinical study; male; Nigeria; oocyte; prevalence; Schistosoma hematobium; schistosomiasis; seasonal variation; sex difference; snail; species difference; urinalysis; water quality