Emerging Parasites among Apparently Healthy School Aged Children in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Aim: This study examines the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica, Paragonimus westermani and Schistosoma intercalatum among school aged children across the geopolitical zones in Adamawa state, Nigeria.

Study Design: A cross sectional study designed was used and the study was conducted between October 2019 – March 2020. The study population include school age children studying between 7 – 25 years, studying in government schools across the geopolitical zones in Adamawa state.

Methods: A total of 1500 primary and secondary school students from 15 local government areas were enrolled for this study, residual stool samples were collected from each participant and immediately preserved in 10% formalin before taking to the laboratory where it is processed using concentration techniques and observed under the microscope.

Results: A total of 0.80% % of the children were found to be positive for at least one of the three parasites, with Fasciola hepatica being the most prevalent 0.47%, followed by Schistosoma intercalatum 0.27% and Paragonomus westermani 0.07%. High prevalence of these emerging parasites was observed in the southern senatorial zone than central and none was reported from northern zone.

Conclusion: This study reported for the presence Paragonimus westermani and Schistosoma intercalatum for the first time in Adamawa state, highlighting the need for further and a robust study to unravel the epidemiology of these parasites as well as other helminths associated with human infection in the state. This is critical for the design of intervention strategies.