Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis among Primary School Pupils in Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue I, January 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis among Primary School Pupils in Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria

OKOH, Jocelyn Cletus*; KWAGHBEE, Eren; ADIE, Ambrose Ashibel; GBANDE, Mimi Sandra
Department of Biological Sciences, (Microbiology Unit), University of Mkar, Mkar, Benue State, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: – Cryptosporidiosis is a parasitic infection of public health concern and a great burden in Nigeria. It affects a wide range of vertebrates including humans. Cryptosporidium spp is a ubiquitous obligate intracellular parasite of many vertebrate species that is responsible for diarrhoeic conditions which can be either self-limiting in immunocompetent individuals or severe in immunocompromised individuals. This study was carried out to identify Cryptosporidium oocysts from faecal samples of primary school pupils in Gboko, Benue state and determine its prevalence in the study area. A total of 280 samples were collected from school-aged pupils including those with diarrheic faeces, who consumed water from public supplies and eat unsuspectedly contaminated food, who had contact with companion animals, visited endemic areas, swam, did not wash their hands after eating or toilet use amongst other factors studied, and analyzed using modified Ziehl-Neelson staining technique for presence of oocyst. 82 samples were positive, giving a prevalence of 29.29%. It was observed that promotion of public and personal hygiene, drinking of portable water and health education is strategic to ensuring management and prevention of Cryptosporidium infection among the study subjects going forward.

Keywords: Cryptosporidiosis, Parasite, Oocyst, Prevalence, Ziehl-Neelson.

I. INTRODUCTION

Cryptosporidium is a ubiquitous parasite that infects awide range of vertebrates including humans (Leavet al.,2003; Xiao et al., 2004).They are obligate intracellular parasites of man and animals on all continents except Antarctica. Cryptosporidios is ranks 5th among the 24 most important food borne parasites globally (Aniesona and Bamaiyi, 2014; Bamaiyi et al., 2013; Rossle and Latif, 2013). Cryptosporidium species are considered one of the most important parasitic diarrhoeal agents globally (Bodager et al., 2015). The disease usually manifests as a self-limiting diarrhoea in immuno-competent individuals, and as a progressively life threatening diarrhoea in immuno-compromised patients such as those with human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS); the young and the elderly; individuals undergoing cancer chemotherapy, and any other condition that compromises the immune system including simple malnutrition.

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