THE PREVALENCE OF HELMINTH EGGS IN THE SOIL OF ABUJA RECREATIONAL PARKS AND GARDENS, ABUJA NIGERIA
Journal Title: International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences - Year 2011, Vol 2, Issue 10
Abstract
In Nigeria and other developing countries there is an uncontrolled population of stray dogs and inadequate veterinary care, there is a likelihood of high degree of soil contamination by geohelminth eggs. Recreational parks in Abuja receive a lot of visitors daily. Contamination of these parks with geohelminths may expose humans to infection. This study was set up to determine the prevalence of geohelminths in recreational parks in Abuja and the extent of awareness of the risk of infection by the members of the public who visit the parks. Seven recreational parks were selected in such a way that each district with parks is represented, were collected and studied out of the 28 officially approved parks in Abuja phase I. A total of 764 samples were studied using sucrose floatation medium with specific gravity of 1.25. Helminth eggs were found in 516 (68%) of the soil samples studied. Park D (83%) is the highest contaminated with geohelminths. Lowest rate 28 (47%) was observed in park A. Toxocara eggs (52%) were the most frequent, followed by Teania (15%), Isosphora (7%) and Trichuris (3%). Park G was the most contaminated with Toxocara eggs (64%) and park A (7%) the least contaminated with Toxocara eggs. Of the 200 respondents who visited the parks during the study period and were interviewed, 184 (95%) were aware of human infection by helminthes, but only 36% were aware that helminth infection can be acquired through soils contaminated with helminth eggs. It is concluded that soils in Abuja recreational parks are contaminated with helminth eggs and this could be a source of human infection in the city. It is therefore important that members of the public be educated on the risk of soil borne helminth infections.
Authors and Affiliations
F. I MOHAMMED| Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria., U.D IDRIS, J. U UMOH| Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, O. J. AJANUSI| Department of Veterinary Parasitology and entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, J. ABDULLAHI| Department of Veterinary Parasitology and entomology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
Keywords
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