Journal
TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF TROPICAL MEDICINE AND HYGIENE
Volume 107, Issue 8, Pages 480-486Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trt056
Keywords
Fasciola; Helminths; Intestinal parasites; Prevalence; Schoolchildren; Ethiopia
Funding
- University of Gondar, Ethiopia
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Parasitic diseases are the second most frequent cause of outpatient morbidity in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Lake Tana Basin, northwest Ethiopia, from November 2007 to February 2008, to assess the magnitude and associated risk factors for parasitic diseases, including human fascioliasis. We examined 520 stool samples from randomly selected schoolchildren in six schools by microscopy. Rapid sedimentation and KatoKatz techniques were used to detect and count Fasciola and Schistosoma eggs. The formolether concentration method was used for the identification of other helminth eggs, larvae and cysts of protozoan parasites. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 71.3 (95 CI 67.375.1). Hookworm was the predominant intestinal parasite (23.5, 95 CI 19.827.1), followed by Ascaris lumbricoides (18.5, 95 CI 15.221.9) and Schistosoma mansoni (16.7, 95 CI 13.519.9). One hundred and sixty-three (31.4) children had multiple parasitic infections. The most relevant finding was a prevalence of Fasciola spp. of 3.3 in an area where only sporadic cases have been reported previously. The risk of Fasciola spp. infection was significantly associated with raw vegetable consumption, use of unsafe drinking water sources, irrigation practices and sheep and/or cattle ownership. Irrigation practices, male gender, raw vegetable consumption and use of unsafe drinking water sources were risk factors for S. mansoni infection. A high prevalence of parasitic infections among children in the region was found, including a relatively high prevalence of Fasciola spp. infection. Epidemiological studies on the magnitude of parasitic infections in different regions will enable high-risk communities to be identified and allow for planning of appropriate interventions.
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