COINFECTION OF MALARIA AND INTESTINAL PARASITES AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN AJAGBA, SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

Oloyede Samuel Bolaji*, Callistus Adewale Akinleye, Bosede Toluwani Agunbiade, Abiodun Akeem Akindele, Adenike Damilola Adeleke and Oluwaseyi Adegboyega Adeyeba

ABSTRACT

Concomitant parasitic infections in developing world is increasing. In this study, the extent of co-infections were investigated .Three hundred consenting individuals consisting of 136 males and 164 females participated in this study. Feacal specimens and venous blood were collected from the participants. The formol-ether concentration method were used to screen the feacal samples for helminths and protozoans, while Giemsa-stained blood smears was used for malaria parasite and packed cell volume (PCV) was determined by hematocrit. The prevalence of Malaria parasite , Hookworm , Ascaris lumbricoides, Strongyloides stercoralis, Entamoeba histolytica were 27.3%, 24.6%, 8.7%, 6.6%, 6.6% respectively. Females (55.0%) were generally more infected with all parasite than the males (45.1%) and it is statistically significance (p=0.000). Co-infection of parasites were observed as follows; Hookworm, Ascaris lumbricodes and Malaria parasite (2.7%), Hookworm, Entamoeba histolytica and Malaria parasite (0.7 histolytica %), Hookworm, Ascaris lumbricodes, Malaria Parasite and Entamoeba histolytica (1.3%), Entamoeba and Ascaris lumbricodes (0.7%), Hookworm and Strongyloides stecoralis (2.0%), Ascaris lumbricodes and hookworm (3.3%),Hookworm and Malaria Parasite (3.3%), Ascaris lumbricodes and Malaria (2.7%), Entamoeba histolytica and Malaria (2.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides and Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%) and Ascaris , Strongyloides stercoralis and Malaria Parasite(0.7%).The overall Mean PCV of the population was 29.40±5.16 and it statistically significant(p = 0.029). These result showed the existence of polyparasitism in Ajagba community and it is a major public health problem hence there is need for improved environmental condition which includes clean water supplies, periodic deworming of children and action against deficiency in sanitary facilities, poor personal hygiene.

Keywords: Multiple Parasitic Infections, School Children, Ajagba, Nigeria.