Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthes among Children in Selected Communities in Monrovia; Liberia

The present study was carried out among children below 15 years in 10 communities in Monrovia. Out of the 646 children recruited in the study; 216 (33.4) were positive for at least one intestinal helminth parasite. Children between 11 - 15 years had the highest prevalence of intestinal helminthes. Ascaris lumbricoides was the most common intestinal helminth parasite encountered (79.6); followed by Trichuris trichura (19.0). Strongyloides stercoralis and Enterobius vermicularis were the least prevalent helminth parasites encountered among the study population (1each). The population in these communities depended largely on poorly built latrines and buckets for faecal disposal although some (49) used flush toilets despite their being in poor conditions. Only 23.45 of the 646 children surveyed used pipe borne water for drinking and other domestic purposes. The high prevalence rates of helminth infection obtained could be due to persistent infection and re-infection of the study population as a result of the constant seeding of the soil with parasite eggs and larvae in these communities

Transmission of onchocerca volvulus by simulium damnosum S.L. in four villages in the Gorama Chiefdom; Kono district; Sierra Leone

Quantitative studies on the transmission of onchocerca volvulus; including monthly and annual biting densities; age composition; parity rates; infection and infective rates of the similium damnosum s.l. population; were carried out for a year in a tropical rain-forest zone in Sierra Leone. In all 19;432 s. damnosum s.l. female flies were acught and 8;755 dissected; of which 6.307 were parous. The annual biting rate (ABR) varied between 20;787 and 39;188; 5.4 per cent of all flies were infected with O. volvulus; 3.6 per cent carried infective larvae in the head capsule; with mean of 2.5 per fly. The annual transmission potential (ATP) varied between 1;138 and 2;081. The ATPs for Bunabu; Matama; Kangama and Moimandu villages were 2;081; 1;403; 1;138 and 1;498 respectively; with most of the infection occuring during the months of May and August. The prevalences of skin microfilariae (mf) in Bunabu; Matama; Kangama and Moimandu villages were 79.0 per cent; 51.3 per cent; 78.0 per cent and 80.0 per cent respectively

Malaria infection in underfive children and the use of preventive measures by their mothers in the Njala Area; Moyamba District; Southern Province; Sierra Leone

Four hundred and four children (404) under five year of age from five villages in the Moyamba District; Southern Province of Sierra Leone were examined for malaria parasites. The mean overall prevalence of malaria parasites due to all species was 40.3 per cent. Bonjeima had the highest prevalence rate (56 per cent) and Njala Junction/Mosongo had the lowest (19.7 per cent). Plasmodium falciparum was the predominant species. The 3-3.99 year olds had the highest infection rate due to plasmodium falciparum (43.8 per cent); plasmodium malariae was more common in the 2-2.99 year olds (6.7 per cent) and they also had the highest infection of plasmodium ovale infections (13.8 per cent). Children on prophylactic drugs had the highest prevalence of malaria parasites (36.4 per cent); followed by mosquito net users (34 per cent); insecticide users (26.1 per cent) and those living in houses completely screened from mosquitoes 824.3 per cent)

Onchocerciasis in Sierra Leone: Infection in School Children in the Njala Area Southern Province

The prevalence of Onchocerca Volvulus infection in school children from five primary schools and one secondary shool in the Njala area; Southern Province was determited in 1985 and 1989 to see the pattern of infection and factors determining prevalence. An infection rate of 42 per cent was found in 1989 compared to the 29.2 per cent infection rate found in 1985. The rate of increase of 222.5 per cent was greater at the University Secondary School over a four year period followed by UMC Pelewahun (138.0 per cent); UMC Mokonde (93.2 per cent); NUC Experimental (71.3 per cent); R.C. Mosongo (55.4 per cent) and NUC International Shool (33.3 per cent). Prevalence of infection rose with age from 3.2 per cent in 1-4 year olds to 75.2 per cent in the over 20 years old there was a significant (P less than 0.005) increase in the intensity of infection between the 10-14 and the 15-19 years old pupils respectively. The proportion of positive skin biopsies and microfilarial densities at the iliac crest was significantly (P less than 0.005) higher than biopsies at the shoulder. There were more palpable nodules at the iliac crest region (pelvic region) than any other anatomical site