Parasitological Assessment and Public Health Implications of Water Used for Domestic Purposes in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Journal Title: International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health - Year 2016, Vol 17, Issue 4
Abstract
Aims: Water-borne diseases have been a major cause of morbidity in most developing countries including Nigeria mainly due to poor quality of water used for domestic and industrial purposes. This study was on the parasitological assessment and public health implications of water used for domestic purposes in Ebonyi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Study Design: This was an observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria between September, 2014 and October, 2014. Methodology: Samples from different water bodies in each of four communities in Ebonyi Local Government Area were collected and analyzed using standard parasitological methods. Results: The results revealed the presence of seven (7) different parasites including Giardia lamblia, Schistosoma haematobium, Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica, Strongyloides stercoralis, Diphyllobothrium latum and Taenia spp. The result showed that Giardia lamblia had the highest occurrence of 23.57% while Entamoeba histolytica recorded the least parasite presence with 7.14%. The pond water showed the highest occurrence of parasites presence with 44.29% while the least occurrence was borehole with 0.71%. Only borehole from Nkaleke community showed the presence of a parasite (Entamoeba histolytica). Conclusion: This study result is of alarming concern as the water bodies sampled are the major water sources available in those areas and by this study are unsafe for domestic use because of their high parasite presence. It is therefore imperative to suggest that the government of Ebonyi state and Nigeria at large should make available infrastructures that would make the water bodies safe for domestic use. Meanwhile, the inhabitants of risk areas and the general populace are advised to boil or treat their drinking water with water guard before use. Also, indiscriminate dumping of refuse or faecal materials should become everyone’s concern and be discouraged.
Authors and Affiliations
C. V. Nwidembia, O. O. Odikamnoro, A. U. Nnachi, I. N. Aghanya
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP329115
- DOI 10.9734/IJTDH/2016/27040
- Views 190
- Downloads 0
Bacterial Meningitis: A Review in the Upper East Region of Ghana 2010-2014
Introduction: Meningitis is an acute inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and the spinal cord. It can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in 50% of cases if untreated. The Upper East Region (UER...
Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Plasmodium falciparum Dual Infection amongst Residents of Kaduna South in North Western Nigeria
The possibility of co-infection between malaria and HIV in Nigeria is of tremendous public health concern. The study was designed to investigate the prevalence of malaria and HIV dual infection. A total of one hundred an...
Studies of Urinary Schistosomiasis amongst School Age Children in Ebonyi North Senatorial District of Ebonyi State, Nigeria
The prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among school age children in seven primary schools in Ebonyi North Senatorial district of Ebonyi State was investigated using standard parasitological technique. Out of 525 pupil...
Performance of Rapid Diagnostic Test for Malaria Diagnosis at the Different Specialized Hospitals in Wad Medani, Gezira State, Sudan
Background: Malaria may be overestimated if the diagnosis is based solely on clinical signs. Therefore, laboratory confirmation is essential. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have become an essential tool in malaria control...
Vector Competence of Laboratory-reared Anopheles stephensi for Plasmodium vivax-infected Blood from Pakistani Patients
Malaria is one of the leading causes of death around the world. Plasmodium vivax is supposed to contribute over 80% of total malaria cases in Pakistan. However, data on transmission pattern is inconsistent and scanty in...