Epidemiological study of multiple parasitic infections among five rural communities in Kano state, Nigeria /Salwa Shehu Dawaki

Salwa Shehu, Dawaki (2017) Epidemiological study of multiple parasitic infections among five rural communities in Kano state, Nigeria /Salwa Shehu Dawaki. PhD thesis, University of Malaya.

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Abstract

Multiple parasitic infections or polyparasitism is the concurrent presence of different parasitic species in a single host. Humans are often infected with more than one species of parasite, especially in developing countries, where parasitism is endemic and widely distributed. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology of polyparasitism based on a single collection of faecal, urine and blood samples among five rural communities in Kano state, Northern Nigeria. Of the 551 participants, prevalence of parasitism was 84% comprising of single (39.1%) and multiple (60.9%) infections. A total of 15 parasitic species were identified, among which Plasmodium (60%), Blastocystis sp. (29.2%), Entamoeba (16.3%) and hookworms (15.4%) were most prevalent. Concurrently, up to eight parasitic species / genus were detected in a single host. Factors such as an infected family member and not wearing shoes outside home were associated with the increased risk of having polyparasitism. Plasmodium falciparum was detected as the highest prevalent and its risk factors were associated with younger age group, lower family monthly income and not using bed net. Despite more than 70% knew about malaria infection, it’s cause, symptoms and own bed net however majority do not use the bed nets. As for schistosomiasis, risk of infection relates to younger age group, male, farming as occupation, presence of infected family member and previous history of infection. Respondents were aware of schistosomiasis (74%) and recognised that polluted water body is the source of infection and yet 50.9% still had contact with the stagnant water mostly for domestic purposes (68.1%). As for Blastocystis species four subtypes were recovered [ST1 (39.2%), ST3 (33.3%), ST4 (13.7%) and ST2 (7.8%)] and is the first report from Northern Nigerian communities.

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