IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT)

e-ISSN: 2319-2402,p- ISSN: 2319-2399.Volume 10, Issue 6 Ver. III (Jun. 2016), PP 23-30
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Incidence Of Ascaris lumbricoides Among School Aged Children

(318) In Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, South East
Nigeria.
Nwankwo, Joseph I.*1., Ukpai, Grace E.2 And Iriele Kingsley I1.
1

* Applied Microbiology and Brewing Department, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, Enugu State University
of Science and Technology, PMB 01660, Enugu Nigeria.
2
Applied Microbiology Department, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki.

Abstract: A survey of the round worm, Ascaris lumbricoides was conducted among children aged 3 18 years
in communities within Izzi local government area in Ebonyi state, Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to
determine the incidence of the round worm among the children in the local government. A total of 300 faecal
samples collected from the communities in the area were examined using the sodium chloride concentration
method, out of which 15 (5.0%) were infected with the parasite. A total of 161 males and 139 females were
sampled. The incidence among females (5.8%) was higher than males (4.3%). Age group 16 19 years had the
highest percentage infection (11.1%). Those that mostly defecate in the bush had a higher incidence (5.1%). The
incidence for those that mostly eat raw vegetables and fruit was higher (5.8%) than for those that do not. Worm
expulsion was directly related to infection with an incidence of 14.8%. Incidence for those that passed out
blood-stained stool was higher (9.3%). Results obtained implicated those that obtain their drinking water from
ponds to be the most infected (6.7%). Using T-test and ANOVA to analyse the various parameters, the result
obtained indicates that ascariasis is insignificant in the area which could be attributed to a mass treatment and
awareness campaign by the government in recent time. Moreover, it is envisaged that improvement in personal
hygiene and sanitation augmentation with the appropriate anthelmintics will prevent re-infection and infection
from other intestinal nematodes.
Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides, Izzi local government, Ebonyi state and Incidence.

I.

Introduction

A number of parasites whose predilection sites are in the small intestine are implicated directly or
indirectly with anaemias (Soulsby, 1976). Intestinal worm disease has gone a long way to increasing the
incidence of infantile death and emaciation. This could be attributed to individuals personal hygiene,
occupational status, socio-economic and cultural factors as well as the sanitary conditions of the environment.
Among the helminths parasites that affect man are Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm (Necator
americanus and Ancylostoma doudenale), Tricuris trichiura, Strangloides stercoralis, Teania species etc. And
they causer different infections and diseases to man with a variety of symptoms ranging from anaemia,
diarrhoea, vomiting, digestive disorders and abdominal discomfort (Duerden et al., 1987).
Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most prevalent of all human parasites on the world today. It
measures about 20 40cm in length and 5 6mm in diameter. It is worldwide in distribution affecting about
twenty-five percent of the worlds population and is particularly common in areas of inadequate sanitation and
where untreated human faeces are used as fertilizers (night soil). It is spread by faecal pollution of the soil.
Infection with this round worm that invades the human digestive tracts is by ingesting infected eggs in
contaminated food or from hand that have become faecally contaminated (Cheesbrough, 1987). Manifestations
of ascariasis vary and include constitutional symptoms, particularly pulmonary and gastro-intestinal complaints.
Complications include pneumonitis, intestinal obstruction and damage to vital organs (Bratton and Nesse,
1993). The infection is diagnosed by finding the eggs in the faeces or as in Loefflers syndrome; larvae may also
be seen in Sputum (Roderick et al; 1997). Treatment with anthelmintic agents is usually effective in mild cases,
but at epidemic level or in hyper endemic areas; repeated mass chemotherapy and maintenance of good hygiene
and attendant sanitation is necessary.
Hence, this study will be part of a comprehensive parasitological investigation of five rural
communities in Izzi Local Government Area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, to observe the percentage incidence of
ascaris burden in the communities. This study will therefore examine in detail the incidence and possible fact
that influence the effective eggs of ascaris in the communities and an at7tempt to provide a qualitative method
based on influencing parameter data for predicting the incidence and also possible prevention and
control/therapy measures preferred. For the purpose of this work, a general review of previous study on ascaris
other parasitic infections will be discussed.
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Incidence Of Ascaris lumbricoides Among School Aged Children (318) In Izzi Local.....
This research will look at Ascaris lumbricoides which is the chief parasite in children and was chosen because
children mostly exhibit a care-free attitude to hygiene than the young adults. The following objectives have been
laid down for studies,
a. To investigate the incidence of ascaris in the communities.
b. To determine the incidence of ascaris among age and sex of thee children
c. To determine how socio-cultural factors: feeding habit, defaecation behaviours, personal and communal
hygiene with attendant sanitary condition of the environment which ensures continuous re-exposure to
infective agents affect the spread of ascariasis.
d. To relate the infection with malnutrition of the people.
e. To investigate the relationship between ascaris and other parasitic infections with regards to morbidity
f. To determine how economic factors; occupational, mainly affect the infection and of other endemic
parasites.
g. To effect public health campaign.
h. Finally, to determine how these intestinal worm diseases can be prevented/controlled.
The choice of a rural community is because the parasite is endemic in areas with high level of poverty
and poor sanitary conditions, lack of amenities and to a lesser extent the behavioural pattern of the people.
Nigeria is one of the tropical disease areas in the world and it is necessary to scr6een people of
different localities. So as to present correct information vital for the national control programme and
epidemiological findings. In same vein, Nigeria aims at good health for all by the year 2000, it becomes wise to
emphasize the importance of improved public and private hygiene as one of the effective control measures of
intestinal parasites.
The purpose of this work is to present a clear picture of problems of intestinal parasites (ascaris) especially
among the primary school children in Izzi local government area, Ebonyi state, Nigeria.
II.
Materials And Methods
Description of Study Area
The study area (Izzi) is one of the largest local government areas in Ebonyi state and it is located on
6o33 North of equator and 8o15 east of equator. The topography is rugged with vegetation which is mostly of
the guinea savannah. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 180 to 200cm with a relative humidity of 65 to 75%,
the average temperature is 21 6oC.
The local government comprises five communities namely Igbeagu, Ezainyimagu, Mgbalukwu, Ndieze
and Agbaja with a total population of one hundred and sixty-six thousand, two hundred and thirty-nine (166,
239) according to the 1991 census (NEST, 1991). The local government headquarters is located at Iboko.
The major occupation of the populace is farming and their major crop (cash crop) is rice. However,
over half of the population that make up the entire local government practice commercial farming and over 75%
engage in subsistence farming. The populace obtain their drinking water mostly from wells and bore-hole rarely
from ponds. The communities have a large expanse of rich agricultural land and as such farming has been an
age-long practice and t7he use of fertilizers for the improvement of agricultural yield is a common practice.
The Population Sample Size
The population sample from which three hundred sample sizes was chosen at random comprised of one
thousand five hundred pupils within the age of 3 18 years. Three hundred pupils were therefore selected from
each community to make up the one thousand five hundred from which sixty from each three hundred was
chosen at random. There was no special criterion under which the selection of the sample size was made but it
was not uncommon to see some children with features like anaemia and other predisposing tendencies of ill
health. Most of the pupils within the age of bracket 3 18 years are mostly school children who walk barefooted to schools and most times to farm and at homes. The poor level of hygiene and sanitation was evident in
these communities which is typical of a rural settlement.
The sample size comprises of one hundred and sixty one males and one hundred and thirty nine females.
Collection of Samples
Three hundred questionnaires ((Appendix C) were shared to the sample population along with labelled
specimen bottles. To fill the questionnaires, the children were guided by their parents and the
information/questions supplied confirmed through oral interviews. The faecal specimen were collected in the
morning hours (within 8-11am) and conveyed to the laboratory for examination. Samples collected daily were
examined five hours after collection. The samples were drawn from school children between ages of 3 18
years of age. The samples were collected in April 1999.

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Incidence Of Ascaris lumbricoides Among School Aged Children (318) In Izzi Local.....
Parasitological Method
For parasitological examination, concentration method for faecal parasites as described by
Cheesbrough, 1987 was used.
Saturated sodium chloride was the major chemical used. A test tube was filled to about one quarter
with the sodium chloride solution and an estimated 1.0 gram of faeces was added to the tube using a rod or stick
and emulsified in the solution. The tube was filled with the solution and mixed very well and allows to stand in
a vertical rack. The solution in the tube was topped (filled) to the brim using a pipette. A clean (grease-free)
cover glass was carefully placed on top of the tube and the set up was left undisturbed for twenty minutes after
which the cover glass was carefully lifted from the tube by a straight upward pull and placed face-down on a
clean glass slide. The entire preparation was examined microscopically using the x10 objective lens. This
procedure was carried out for all the three hundred faecal samples and the concentration method augmented
with the direct smear observation technique.

III.

Results

A total of three hundred people were examined. This comprised 161 males and 139 females. Eighteen
of the individuals belong to 16 19 years age group, fifty-nine from age group 12 15 years. One hundred and
twenty-eight from 8 11 years group, while ninety-four was from 4 7 years age group and one from 1 3
years age group. A total of 60 samples came from each of the five communities making a total of three hundred
samples for the local government. The total infection prevalence was 15 (5%) as shown in Table I.
Table 1: Total incidence for Ascaris lumbricoides.
Age Interval

Total Number
Sampled
1
94
128
59
18
300

13
47
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

Number Infected

Percentage
Infected
0
4.3
5.5
3.4
11.0
5.0

4
7
2
2
15

Number Not
Infected
1
90
121
57
16
285

Percentage Not
Infected
100
95.7
94.5
96.6
88.9
95.0

Table 1 showed that age group 16 19 years has the highest percentage incidence (11.1%) followed by
age group 8 11 years (5.5%), then 4 7 years (4.3%) and 12 15 years (3.4%). There was no reported
incidence for age group 1 3 years; besides only one person was sampled from the age group.
The highest incidence was recorded among the children from Ezainyimagu (10.0%) followed by Ndieze (6.7%),
Agbaja (5.0%) and Igbeagu (3.3%). However, none was recorded for Mgbalukwu as shown in Table 2.
Table 2: Incidence by Communities
1
2
3
4
5

Communities
Igbeagu
Ezeinyimagu
Mgbalukwu
Ndieze
Agbaja
TOTAL

Number Sampled
60
60
60
60
60
300

Number Infected
2
6
4
3
15

Percentage Infected
3.3
10.0
0.0
6.7
5.0
5.0

As shown in Table 3, females had a higher percentage incidence (5.8%) compared to males (4.3%).
Table 3: Incidence by sex of pupils
Age
Interval
13
47
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

Total
Number
Sampled
1
94
128
59
18
300

Male

1
38
77
35
10
161

Female

56
51
24
8
139

Number Of
Male
Infected
2
4
1
7

Number Of
Female
Infected
2
3
1
2
8

Percentage
Of
Male
Infected
0.0
5.3
5.2
2.9
0.0
4.3

Peercentage
Of Female
Infected
0.0
3.6
5.6
4.2
25.0
5.8

Total
Percentage
Infected
0.0
4.3
5.5
3.4
11.1
5.0

Table 4 shows that pupils within the age group 16 19 years has the highest infection incidence (11.1%)
followed by those within the age group 8 11 years (5.5%), then 4 7 years (4.3%) and 12 15 years (3.4%).
None was recorded for age group 1 3 years.

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Incidence Of Ascaris lumbricoides Among School Aged Children (318) In Izzi Local.....
TABLE 4: Incidence by age groups
Age Interval
13
47
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

Total Number Sampled

1
94
128
59
18
300

Total Number Infected

0
4
7
2
2
15

Percentage Infected
0.0
4.3
5.5
3.4
11.1
5.0

Results from Table 5 indicates that of the three sources of drinking water for the communities, that is,
well, bore-hole and pond, those that mostly obtain their drinking water from pond recorded the highest
percentage incidence (6.7%) followed by those that obtain their drinking water from well (5.4%) and then borehole (4.3%). However the age group 8 11 years was the only group implicated (11.1%) for those that drink
from the pond. While the order of incidence of those that obtain their drinking water from well was 10.0%,
6.5%, 5.9% and 3.7% for age groups 16 19, 12 15, 4 7, and 8 11 years respectively. Furthermore, the
percentage incidence for those that obtain their drinking water from bore-hole was 4.3%, 6.2% and 2.5% for age
group 16 19, 8 11 and 4 7 years respectively.
Table 5: Incidence of infections as it relates to source of drinking water.
Age
Interval

Well
Numbe
r
1
51
54
31
10
147

13
4-7
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

Number
Infected
3
2
2
1
8

Percentage
Infected
0.0
5.9
3.7
6.5
10.0
5.4

Bore Hole
Number
Number
Infected
40
1
65
4
26
7
1
138
6

Pond
Number

Percentage
Infected
0.0
2.5
6.2
0.0
14.3
4.3

Number
Infected
1
1

3
9
2
1
15

Percentage
Infected
0.0
0.0
11.1
0.0
0.0
6.7

As shown in Table 6, those that use toilets occasionally and are infected was 6.3% while those that use toilet
everyday and are infected was 3.9%. Also, infection rate was higher in pupils within the age group of 16 19
years followed by the age group 8 11 years and 4 7 years for those that use toilets everyday; representing
14.3%, 4.5% and 2.6% infection respectively. However, none was reported for age 1 3 and 12 15 years. For
those that use toilets occasionally or rather that defecate in the bush frequently, the percentage infection was
9.8%, 6.8%, 6.1% and 5.4% for age interval 16 19, 8 11, 12 15 and 4 7 years respectively. Besides, none
was recorded for age group 1 3 years.
Table 6: The use of toilets as it relates to infection
Age Interval
13
47
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

Number
Sampled
1
94
128
59
18
300

Every Day

Number
Infected
1
4
1
6

38
84
26
7
155

Percentage
Infected
0.0
2.6
4.5
0.0
14.3
3.9

Occasionally
56
44
33
11
144

Number
Infected
3
3
2
1
9

Percentage
Infected
0.0
5.4
6.8
6.1
9.1
6.3

Results indicated in Table 7 shows that those that eat raw vegetables and fruits are implicated and they
have a higher percentage of infection (5.8%) compared to those that do not take such foods (3.0%). Also those
that fall within the age group 16 19 years recorded a higher percentage (7.1%) incidence followed by those
within the ages 8 11 years (6.0%), 4 7 years (5.7%) and 12 15 years (4.1%) for those that eat raw
vegetables and fruits. While the infection was observed only in age groups 16 19 years (25.0%) and 8 11 years
(3.6%) for those that do not eat raw vegetables and fruits.
Table 7: Relationship between those that eat raw vegetables and fruits and the rate of infection
Age Interval

Number

Number
Infected

13
47
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

70
100
49
14
233

4
6
2
1
13

Percentage Infected

Number

Number
Infected

0.0
5.7
6.0
4.1
7.1
5.8

1
24
28
10
4
67

1
1
2

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Percentage Infected
F

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0.0
0.0
3.6
0.0
25.0
3.0

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Incidence Of Ascaris lumbricoides Among School Aged Children (318) In Izzi Local.....
E: Data for those that eat raw vegetables and fruits.
F: Data for those that do not eat raw vegetables and fruits.
As shown in Table 8, infection increase with age for those that had expelled worms recently. For age groups 4
7, 8 11, 12 15 and 16 19 years, percentage infection was 7.1%, 14.3%, 15.4% and 33.3% respectively.
Besides, infection was recorded only for age groups 4 7 (3.8%) and 8 11 years (3.7%) for those that did not
expel worms recently.
Table 8: Worm expulsion as it relates to infection
AGE
INTERVAL

NUMBER

13
47
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

14
21
13
6
54

NUMBER
INFECTED
J
1
3
2
2
8

PERCENTAGE
INFECTED

NUMBER

0.0
7.1
14.3
15.4
33.3
14.8

1
80
107
45
12
246

NUMBER
INFECTED
K
3
4
7

PERCENTAGE
INFECTED
0.0
3.8
3.7
0.0
0.0
2.8

J: Data for those that admitted to have expelled worm recently

K: Data for those that do not expel worm recently
Result shown in Table 9 indicated that infection rate was higher (9.3%) for those that admitted to have
passed out blood-stained stool recently than those that did not (4.1%). However, age group 16 19 years
recorded the highest percentage incidence (25.0%) followed by age group 8 11 years (12.5%) and 12 15
years (8.3%) for those that passed out blood-stained stool recently. While the percentage incidence for those that
did not pass out blood-stained stool was 7.1%, 5.1%, 3.8% and 2.1% for age groups 16 19, 4 7. 8 11, 12
15 years respectively.
Table 9: Blood-stained stool as it relates to infection
AGE
INTERVAL

NUMBER

13
47
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

14
24
12
4
54

NUMBER
INFECTED
Q
3
1
1
5

PERCENTAGE
INFECTED

NUMBER

0.0
10.0
12.5
8.3
25.0
9.3

1
80
104
47
14
246

NUMBER
INFECTED
R
4
4
1
1
10

PERCENTAGE
INFECTED
0.0
5.1
3.8
2.1
7.1
4.1

Q: Data for those that excreted blood-stained stool recently.

R: Data for those that do not excrete blood-stained stool recently.
As shown in Table 10, those within the age group 16 19 years recorded the highest incidence (11.1%)
followed by those within the age group 12 15 years (8.0%), 8 11 years (4.4%) and then 4 7 years (2.6%)
for those that treat their drinking water. While the percentage infection for those that do not treat their water
represents 11.1%, 5.9% and 5.4% for age groups 16 19, 8 11, 4 7 years respectively.
Table 10: Distribution of infection as it relates to water treatment
AGE
INTERVAL

NUMBER

13
47
8 11
12 15
16 19
TOTAL

38
45
25
9
118

NUMBER
INFECTED
P
1
2
2
1
6

PERCENTAGE
INFECTED

NUMBER

0.0
2.6
4.4
8.0
11.1
5.1

1
56
8.3
34
9
182

NUMBER
INFECTED
S
3
5
1
9

PERCENTAGE
INFECTED
0.0
5.4
5.9
0.0
11.1
4.9

P: Data for those that treat their drinking water.

S: Data for those that do not treat their drinking water.

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Incidence Of Ascaris lumbricoides Among School Aged Children (318) In Izzi Local.....
IV.

Discussion

This work does not correspond to previous work by Nwosu, (1981) who reported an incidence of
20.6% for ascaris lumbricoides. It also disagrees with the work by Udonsi et al: (1996) who reported a
prevalence of 54.0%. There was also dissimilarity in the result obtained by Obiamiwe, (1977) who recorded
29.5% infection with ascariasis. However, it agrees with the result obtained by Yakubu and Bello, (1988) who
reported a lower incidence of 2.8% for ascaaris lumbricoides using a sample size of five hundred and fourteen.
The reason for this low incidence could be attributed to a controlled treatment given to school children
within the local government, four months before this research. Besides, this treatment was given at the onset of
the dry season which might have ensured a break in transmission of the parasite thus agreeing with the condition
described by Nwosu (1981) that if mass chemotherapy to be directed mainly at the subgroups at risk and timed
from the onset of the dry season (which is unfavourable for worm transmission), then there would be a drastic
reduction in worm prevalence with minimal cost.
Generally, the incidence within the communities sampled was collectively low. Besides, no incidence
was recorded in one of the communities. However this contradicts the report by Nwosu, (1981) that most human
helminth diseases in the tropics are confined to the rural villages where poor sanitation and domestic hygiene, as
well as general ignorance of the disease enhance the problem. Some other researchers have reported high
incidence of intestinal helminth in rural communities. However, it agrees with the report by Alakija, (1986) that
the prevalence of several important parasites such as A. lumbricoides, Hookworm, T. trichiura, S. stercoralis
and E. histolytica is lower in the rural communities than in the urban communities due to over-crowding in the
cities.
Age and sex play a very significant role in the transmission of ascaris and other intestinal helminths.
From this study, it was discovered that age group 16 19 years recorded the highest incidence. However, the
results obtained does not agree with the report by Hobson (1975) who reported that infection decreases with
increasing age groups may be affected. Also, it disagrees with the work by udonsi et al; (1996) who reported
that peak prevalence for ascaris lumbricoides was among the less than or nine years age group. However, the
result obtained for this survey can be related to the number of pupils sampled within the age groups.
Sex related incidence was higher in females than males and agrees with that reported by Kightlinger et
al; (1995 and1998), that prevalence of intensity of ascariasis is significantly higher in girls and was thought to
be influenced by gender-related behavioural and environmental factors that contributes to exposure.
Furthermore, from the analysis age groups 4 7 years and 8 11 years has positive effect while other age
groups have negative effect. Also effect of ascaris was positive on females but negative on males. The source of
drinking water is related to infection. Infection rate of the that obtain their drinking water from well was
consistent or observed for all the age groups sampled save for the 1 3 years age group; unlike those that obtain
their drinking water from bore hole and ponds. Conversely, the percentage index was highest for those that
obtain their drinking water from ponds even though it has a negative effect, from the analysis. This could be
explained from the fact that only one age group 8 11 years was implicated, thus a lower percentage (5.0) of the
300 population sample (Table V) was implicated. Also bore hole as a source of drinking water has a positive
effect on infection while well as a source of drinking water also has a positive effect. Considering the number
that take untreated water and the positive effect of such parameters to the incidence of infection in the
communities, it agrees with the report by Nwosu (1981) who emphasized that water for domestic use derived
from rivulent and streams, artificial wells, ponds and rain water collected and stored constituent infection foci.
From the analysis, it was evident that the level of infection depends on both defecation habit and age of
individual. Besides, occasional use of toilets indicates that on most occasions, the number implicated defecates
in the bushes. However, this habit has a resultant effect on those that practice it because their level of hygiene is
poor and is a predisposition for them to get infected or even infect others. Powuloski (1985) reported that
indiscriminate defecation and urination are important factors in the transmission of intestinal helminth diseases
while Davies (1984) also showed that prevalence of ascariasis reflect inadequate faecal disposal.
The result obtained indicates that ascaris had a positive effect for those that eat raw vegetables and
fruits but negative for those that do not. Besides, using these parameters as a yard stick to determine the
incidence of ascaris could be misleading because at one time or the other, everyone takes fruits or vegetables
whether cooked or uncooked. Also, it is assumed that the most commonly infected fruits are those which are
close to the ground (soil). But the tendency for those that claimed not to take raw vegetables or fruits to be
infected indicates that other factors other than the consumption of raw vegetables or fruits operates to maintain
infectivity. It could be said that infectivity is influenced mostly by socio-cultural factors such as feeding habits,
defecation behaviours, personal and communal hygiene with attendant sanitary condition of the environment all
of which culminate to ensure continuous re-exposure to infective agent which affects the spread of ascariasis.
From the analysis it was concluded that the infection of ascariasis depends on the expulsion of worms.
This is an undisputable fact since morbidity is closely tied to the worm burden (Chan, 1997). But the point of
conflict here lies in the fact that the incidence of infection increase with age for those that expel worms recently
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Incidence Of Ascaris lumbricoides Among School Aged Children (318) In Izzi Local.....
(from age group 4 7, 8 11, 12 15, and 16 19 years respectively). This could be due to the number of
pupils sampled within the age group.
Ascariasis is related negatively to blood-stained stools.. Surprisingly, the percentage incidence of
ascaris for those that recently passed out blood-stained stool was higher than for those that did not (Table 9).
From this result it could be explained that there was a predisposed infections which results to anaemia such as
hookworm infection which might have occurred as mix infection with ascaris. It has been shown that A.
lumbricoides interferes with the digestion and absorption of dietary protein (Woodruff, 1965) and thus can result
to malnutrition of the host (Hanitrasoamampionona et al; 1998). Also, Sarojini (1993) reported that both ascaris
and hookworm cause poor health and anaemia. Hookworm infestation is a more serious condition because the
worm attaches itself to the intestinal wall and sucks blood. It produces a chemical that prevents blood from
clotting. As a result, the wound bleeds even when the worm moves to another site. This causes great loss of
blood.
With the result obtained and from the above assertion, it can be said that there exists a relationship
between ascaris and hookworm with regards to morbidity. However, since a low incidence for ascaris was
recorded from this work compared to the work by a colleague who recorded a high incidence for hookworm
(43.0%) in the study area; hence it could be said that economic factors; occupational, mainly affect the infection
of hookworm and any other endemic parasite that may be present in the area. Moreover, this is a reflection of
the populace which is mainly agriculture and it is common to find people who walk bare-footed to farms or even
market and school. This is further explained by the report by Davies (1984) who showed that the prevalence of
ascaris reflect inadequate faecal disposal and that children have the greatest ascaris infection rate while
agricultural workers are more prone to hookworm infection.
Infection rate or percentage incidence of infection was higher for those that take treated water
compared to those that take untreated water (Table X). This could be attributed to the fact that water might not
be a major source of infection for this infection in the area but could serve as a predisposing factor, since it has
been reported that the incidence of infection is more pronounced during the rainy season. Also, it could depend
on the number of people sampled.
Chowdhury and Tada, (1994) reported that the prevalence of human helminth zoonoses is a source both
of despair and hope, despair because transmission so often is linked to cultural moves which are difficult to
change; and hope because newer techniques employing the tools of molecular biology provide more accurate
diagnosis and thus open the way to more effective treatment, i.e. the use of radiation in control of helminth
infections, chemotherapy and genetic control of immunity to infection.
Besides, control and prevention should be aimed at children within school age and in a developing
country like ours. Safe, effective and cheap drugs should be made available and applied regularly and at the
appropriate time to prevent re-infection.
Above all, human ascaris infections can be prevented by adequate sanitation and modification in the
behaviour of the populace, provision of toilet facilities in open spaces and market and schools and avoiding the
use of faeces as manure for growing vegetables.

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