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The study investigated the infection level and behavioural factors exposing rural inhabitants to urogenital schistosomiasis in Takum Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. Filtration technique determined Schistosoma haematobium eggs from urine samples. Questionnaires collected socio-demographic characteristics and ponds/rivers/streams’ behavioural attitudes of participants. An infection of 41.1% was found. Sufa significantly had the highest infection (62.5%) (χ2 = 32.34, p = 0.001) as well as the age groups 1–10 years (47.2%) and 11–20 years (49.6%) (χ2 = 33.83, p = 0.001). Participants with non-formal education and farmers, respectively, had higher infection (45.7%) (χ2 = 12.08, p = 0.001) and (48.5%) (χ2 = 5.42, p = 0.020). Inhabitants who played in ponds/rivers/streams during dry season as well as those with non-formal education and farmers were more predisposed to infection with respective crude odds ratio (cOR) of 0.92 (%95CI: 0.81–1.50; p = 0.043), 0.55 (%95CI: 0.38–0.77; p = 0.001) and 0.80 (%95CI: 0.33–1.41; p = 0.002). Inhabitants were infected according to their wards as well as their age groups, education level, occupation level and behavioural activities. The federal and state governments should embark on public health education and control of the disease. HIGHLIGHTS First epidemiological study in Takum Local Government reporting the vulnerabilty of rural inhabitants to river and pond water sources.; Water activities like farming of rice, playing and washing in ponds/streams/rivers exposed inhabitants to urogenital schistosomiasis.; Deterioration of bore-holes and absence of pipe-borne potable water motivated and mandated rural inhabitants to riverine and pond activities.;

Schistosomiasis is a blood fluke parasitic illness affecting human lives in rural endemic areas. This study evaluated the performance of Schistosoma ICT Ig G - IgM for screening urinary schistosomiasis in Nigeria.

Objective: To determine schistosomiasis level and risk factors that exposed school-aged children to infection as well as to model schistosomiasis map in relation to altitude and rainfall in Gashaka Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. Methods: The study was conducted between January 2014 and June 2014. Urine and faecal samples were collected from 1080 school-aged children and processed using the filtration and formol–ether concentration techniques, respectively. Results: Irrespective of the schistosomes species, a point prevalence of 10.18% was reported out of the 1080 children examined. Males were significantly infected than their female counterparts (11.75% vs. 8.43%) (χ2 = 4.86; P = 0.027), as well as children aged 6–10 (11.65%, 72/618) and 11–15 years (10.29%, 35/340) than the other age groups (χ2 = 9.274; P = 0.026). No significant difference was observed in schistosomiasis between children whose parents were educated (11.11%, 57/513) and not educated (9.88%, 53/536) (χ2 = 1.342; P = 0.247) and those whose parents are farmers (9.74%, 53/544) and non-farmers (10.63%, 57/536) (χ2 = 0.787; P = 0.375). Proximity to water bodies (distance

Objective: To determine schistosomiasis level and risk factors that exposed school-aged children to infection as well as to model schistosomiasis map in relation to altitude and rainfall in Gashaka Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria. Methods: The study was conducted between January 2014 and June 2014. Urine and faecal samples were collected from 1080 school-aged children and processed using the filtration and formol-ether concentration techniques, respectively. Results: Irrespective of the schistosomes species, a point prevalence of 10.18% was reported out of the 1080 children examined. Males were significantly infected than their female counterparts (11.75% vs. 8.43%) (c2 = 4.86; P = 0.027), as well as children aged 6-10 (11.65%, 72/618) and 11-15 years (10.29%, 35/340) than the other age groups (c2 = 9.274; P = 0.026). No significant difference was observed in schistosomiasis between children whose parents were educated (11.11%, 57/513) and not educated (9.88%, 53/536) (c2 = 1.342; P = 0.247) and those whose parents are farmers (9.74%, 53/544) and non-farmers (10.63%, 57/536) (c2 = 0.787; P = 0.375). Proximity to water bodies (distance < 500 m) (odds ratio = 1.809, confidence interval = 1.057-3.094; P = 0.003 1) and fishing (odds ratio = 2.632, confidence interval = 1.397-4.958; P = 0.003) were the risk factors exposing children to infection. The spatial distribution pattern of schistosomiasis showed that the infection was significantly higher in Serti A (22.2%, 26/180) and Mayo-Selbe (21.1%, 38/180) than the other localities (c2 = 92.99; P = 0.000). Conclusions: This study reported a moderate level of infection among school-aged children with proximity to water bodies and fishing as the main risk factors. The spatial distribution of schistosomiasis in the area will guide in efficient and effective control programmes at local level. It is recommended that continued efforts be made to scale-up distribution of praziquantel to high risk areas so as to curb the progression of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: To determine the prevalence and intensity of infection and the risk factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis in pre-school and school aged children in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. Methods: Urine filtration technique using polycarbonate membrane filters was employed to process urine specimens and to determine presence of Schistosoma haematobium eggs in urine. Questionnaires were also administered to children to collect information on socio-demographic data and water-contact activities. Results: An overall prevalence of 55.0% (165/300) was recorded out of the 300 urine samples examined. Prevalence of infection varied between 36.0%-64.0% with a significant difference (χ2= 11.59, P=0.041) between the different communities visited. Males were more infected (60.6%, 103/170) than females (47.7%, 62/130) with a significant difference (χ2= 4.95, P=0.026). The age-related prevalence showed higher prevalence (70.5%, 36/52) in the 11-15 year old children than that in the 1-5 year old ones (44.9%, 53/118). A significant difference was observed in the prevalence between the age groups (χ2=10.56, P=0.014). The prevalence of light intensity of infection (1-49 eggs/10 mL of urine) (86.6%) was significantly higher than that of heavy intensity of infection (≥50 eggs/10 mL of urine) (13.3%) in the area (t=16.48, P=0.000). Water contact activities of the children revealed that children that were involved in irrigation and those that went swimming in water bodies were observed to be at higher risk of becoming infected with urinary schistosomiasis in the area with odd ratios (risk factors) of 2.756 (1.334-5.693) and 2.366 (1.131-4.948) respectively at P<0.05 level. Conclusions: The study revealed the hyperendemicity of urinary schistosomiasis in the pre-school and school aged children in Guma Local Government Area. It is therefore recommended that praziquantel should be administered to children in the area and systematic epidemiological studies should be undertaken in the whole Local Government Area and the State at large to discover new foci of infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]