Intestinal helminth infections at Zeghie; Ethiopia; with emphasis on schistosomiasis mansoni

ABSTRACT

A total of 460 stool specimens were examined by Kato thick smear technique to determine the prevalence of schistosomiasis mansoni and other helminth infections among people living in Zeghie town; Northwest Ethiopia. The most prevalent infections were schistosomiasis; ascariasis; and trichuriasis. The infection rates among school children for Schistosoma mansoni; Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris triciura were 69.7 per cent; 77.7 per cent and 64.7 per cent; respectively. The respective infection rates of these helminths among the residents were 53.1 per cent; 60.6 per cent and 50 per cent. The prevalence of schistosomiasis appeared to be higher for males than for females. The high prevalence of infection observed for these helminths in the present study clearly indicates the need for timely control measures: