Epidemiological and Bacteriological Studies On Vesical Schistosomiasis in Ikwo Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

A study to determine the prevalence and intensity of vesical schistosomiasis and concomitant bacterial infection in six communities in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State is reported. Centrifuge concentration technique for the examination of Schistosoma haematobium ova was employed. Out of the 838 persons examined, 350 (41.8%) were infected with S. haematobium. Of the 430 males and 408 females examined, 175 (40.7%) and 175 (42.9%) were infected respectively. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of infection amongst the sexes (X2 = 1.19; df = 1; P> 0.05). Over 60% of the infected persons are aged 0 – 20 years. Statistical analysis revealed that the prevalence (X2 = 16.65; df = 6, P< 0.05) and intensity (t = 7.02; df = 6, P 50 eggs/10ml urine. Visible haematuria increased with intensity of infection. Farmers were significantly (X2 = 9.82, df = 4; P< 0.05) more affected than other occupational groups examined. Of the 350 persons examined, 44 (22.6%) had significant bacteriuria. The rate of significant bacteriuria increased with age in both sexes. Statistically, there was a significant difference (X2 = 9.09; df = 1; P< 0.05) in the occurrence of significant bacteriuria among the sexes. The bacterial organisms isolated are: Salmonella (2.3%), Staphylococcus aureus (2.0%), Klebsiella spp (1.1%), Escherichia coli (5.7%), Proteus spp (0.9%) and Pseudomonas spp (0.6%).