Prevalence of schistosoma haematobium infection in a neglected community, south western Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose: Schistosomiasis ranks second to malaria among parasitic diseases of socio-economic and public health importance. In Nigeria, urinary schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma haematobium is endemic. This study aimed at producing an accurate data on the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in Apojula, a neglected community located around Oyan Dam, southwest Nigeria, using parasitological and molecular techniques. Methods: Parasitological examinations were carried out on urine samples from 63 participants whose ages ranged between 7 and 63 years. Matched blood and urine samples were also screened for S. haematobium infection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the schistosome Dra1 repeat. Results: Of the 63 participants, 33 (52.4%) were positive for heamaturia while 6 (9.5%) had S. haematobium ova in their urine. PCR amplification of S. haematobium Dra1 repeat from their urine and blood samples showed that 59 (93.65%) and 62 (98.4%) were infected respectively. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of S. haematobium infection as detected by PCR amplification of schistosome Dra1 repeat from the urine and blood samples of the study participants. In addition, the PCR was able to detect schistosome infection in cases otherwise shown to be negative by parasitological examinations thereby making them also to receive chemotherapy. Keywords: Schistosoma haematobium, heamaturia, urine, blood, PCR, Dra1.