CONTAMINATION OF SOME PUBLIC SCHOOLS’ PREMISES WITH GEOHELMINTHS’ AND TAENIA OVA IN AGO-IWOYE, SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Olufemi Moses Agbolade*, Dorcas Mojisola Oladoyinbo, Olorunfemi Ajetunmobi, Temitayo Iswat Oke, Omotunde Modupe Akinwunmi, Oluwanishola Abidemi Ayodele, Gbenga Amos Daramola, Olanrewaju Mojisola and Wunmi Anthonia Abimbola-Okuneye 

ABSTRACT

Fecal contamination of the environment of school children makes them readily exposed to infection and reinfection by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). Soil samples from the premises of selected four public primary schools in Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, south-western Nigeria were examined, using test tube flotation technique, for ova of human intestinal helminths between July and September 2013 (during rainy season), and in January and February 2014 (during dry season). Overall, 96.4% (108/112) of the soil samples examined were positive for ova of human intestinal helminths, including Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm, and Taenia species. Ascaris lumbricoides was recorded in all the schools with statistically similar percentage abundance values, which ranged between 98.0% and 100%. Trichuris trichiura, hookworm, and Taenia had low expression in this study. Fertile A. lumbricoides ova, with relative abundance range of 89.6% - 92.0%, were significantly more abundant than infertile ones (P < 0.001), and occurred in the toilet, dump site, playing ground, and lunch areas in all the schools. This study has shown a high contamination of the premises of the visited schools with the ova of STHs and Taenia. In order to reverse the situation, the use of the schools’ premises for socio-cultural, political and religious should be controlled to, at least, minimise human fecal contamination. The school children need being adequately enlightened and monitored by teachers and parents towards adopting hygienic practices at both school and home.

Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, hookworm, Taenia species, fecal contamination, public schools.