Pattern of infection of intestinal parasites in Sagbama community of the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

A Parasitology survey was conducted in Sagbama Community of the Niger Delta to determine the pattern of infection of intestinal parasites of man. 280 faecal samples were collected from randomly selected individuals and examined microscopically for ova, larvae and cysts of intestinal parasites. The overall infection rate was 33.6%. The frequency of the parasites encountered was as follows: Ascaris lumbricoides (18.2%). Entamoeba histolytica (6.4%). Hookworm (5.4%). Trichuris trichiura (3.5%), strongyloides stercoralis (3.5%), Schistosoma intercalatum (2.5%), Enterobius vermicularis (1.4%), Fasciola hepatic (0.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.4%). The rate of infection (41.1%) was highest in the 6--15 years old age bracket and lowest in the age group above 45 years. Prevalence rate of the males (37.1%) was statistically different from prevalence rate of the females (28.3%) at (P > 0.01). Percentage infection in relation to type of toilet facilities showed that the use of "Bush" as convenience carried the highest rate of parasitic infection (42.0%) followed by the use of stream/river (36.6%). Individuals who used pit, bucket and water closet as toilet facilities had infection rates of 27.7%, 20.9% and 15.5% respectively. Rate of infection in relation to source of drinking water showed that river/stream, wall/pond and pipe borne water had 35.9%, 32.8% and 12.5% respectively. The present study demonstrated that the type of toilet facilities and source of drinking water, among others, are important determinants of the level of parasitic infection in a rural village setting.