The Prevalence of Parasitic Human Intestinal Helminthes and the Efficacy of Anthelmintic Drug in Children in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria

Cletus Anes Ukwubile^1*, Otalu Otalu Jr.³, Uduak Akpabio³, Matthew Onyema Agu²

¹Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Nigeria.
²Department of Basic and Applied Sciences, Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Nigeria.
³Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ojmm.2013.34032                

Abstract

Introduction: A study on the current status of parasitic intestinal helminthes and the efficacy of anthelmintic drug was carried out among primary school pupils at Community Primary School Ogurugu, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State. Objectives: The research was conducted in order to determine the prevalence of human intestinal helminthes among primary school pupils, and also to determine the prevalence in relation to age and sex, and to check the efficacy of anthelmintic drug (Levamisole) on the worms, in Ogurugu Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 242 faecal samples were collected randomly from the school children and analyzed using standard parasitological procedures. Results: Data obtained showed an overall prevalence of 143 (59.1%) out of 242 samples and that the efficacy of anthelmintic drug Ergamisole? (Levamisole R12564; Unicure Pvt.ltd India) 50 mg in reducing the worm burden was 99 (82.5%) in 120 samples treated. Age related prevalence and efficacy of anthelmintic varied across the sample groups. There was no significant difference in sex related infections in the sample group (P > 0.5). The efficacy of the drug reduces with the increase in age. Also the efficacy of Levamisole drug in reducing the worm burden were hookworm 59 (89.5%), Ascaris 24 (85.7%), Trichuris 26 (78.6%) while Taenia and Strongyloides showed drug resistance. This indicates that a single dose of the medication is not enough for total elimination of these endo parasites. Conclusion: The study revealed that poor hygienic practices as well as unsanitary conditions were responsible for high prevalence recorded in the area, and advocated health education through primary health care and mass deworming of primary school children as control measures.

Keywords

Prevalence; Anthelmintic; Levamisole; Children; Ascaris lumbricoides; Trichuris trichiura

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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