scholarly journals Occurrence of Soil-transmitted Helminths from Selected Dumpsites and Farmlands in Calabar, Nigeria

Author(s):  
Edema Enogiomwan Imalele ◽  
Effanga Emmanuel Offiong ◽  
Usang Anok Ukam ◽  
Aramushu Willington Urimaneh ◽  
Henshaw Victoria Utibe

Aims: The present study investigated the prevalence and intensity of soil-transmitted helminth contamination in dumpsite and farmland soils in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Methodology: Soil samples were randomly collected from selected dumpsites and farmlands from July to December 2019. 200 soil samples (100 samples each from dumpsites and farmland) were collected. Soil samples were analysed using Zinc sulphate flotation technique whereas soil nematode extraction for hookworm and Strongyloides larvae was carried out using the modified Baermann technique. Results: Of the 200 soil samples examined, 131 (65.5%) were positive for ova/larvae of one or more parasites. Dumpsite soils were highly contaminated with ova/larvae of soil-transmitted helminths than farmland soils with a prevalence of 79% (n=79) and 52% (n=52) respectively (P=.02). Farmlands had the highest mean intensity (6.75±1.88) of contamination with ova/larvae of soil-transmitted helminths compared to dumpsite soils (1.68±0.14). Ascaris lumbricoides recorded the highest occurrence (35.5%) (P=.003) in soil samples examined. A. lumbricoides (40%) and Trichuris trichiura (6%) contamination was higher in dumpsite soils, while Strongyloides stercoralis larvae (34%) and hookworm (10%) contamination was higher in farmland soils. Dumpsite soils recorded the highest number of parasites (84%) in the wet season, while farmland soils recorded the highest number of parasites (92%) in the dry season (P=.11). Generally, parasitic ova/larvae were more prevalent in the dry season (91%) than in the wet season (73%) (P=.33). S. stercoralis (33%) was more prevalent in the wet season followed while A. lumbricoides (43%) recorded highest occurrence in the dry season. Conclusion: This study revealed the potential health risk of contracting soil-transmitted helminth parasites in soils around farmlands and dumpsites in Calabar, Nigeria. It is therefore important that a combination of sanitation and health education be put in place for effective control of soil-transmitted helminths.

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 17517-17520
Author(s):  
Naziya Khurshid ◽  
Hidayatullah Tak ◽  
Ruqeya Nazir ◽  
Kulsum Ahmad Bhat ◽  
Muniza Manzoor

A one-year study conducted to ascertain the prevalence and risk factors associated with helminth infection in Hangul Deer Cervus hanglu hanglu at Dachigam National Park revealed that 40.45% (89 of 220 samples) were infected with four helminth species including Heamonchus contortus, Trichuris ovis, Dictyocaulus viviparus, and Moneizia expansa.  The study signified that the infection was more prevalent during the dry season (summer and autumn) as compared to the wet season (winter and spring).  The overall prevalence of Heamonchus contortus was the highest (23.18%) followed by Trichuris ovis (8.18%), followed by Dictyocaulus viviparus (5.45%), and Moneizia expansa (3.63%).  The present study should be of importance in conserving the erstwhile state animal, listed as Critically Engendered in 2017 by IUCN.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Eneojo Godwin Ameh ◽  
Mofoloronsho Samuel Kolawole ◽  
Sunday Ojochogwu Idakwo ◽  
Caroline Ojone Ameh ◽  
Ebo GabrielImeokparia

Soil samples were collected randomly but uniformly distributed around Itakpe iron-ore mines in both dry and wet seasons. Surface soils were collected from 0cm to 10cm using stainless steel augers and located using Global Positioning System (GPS). Soil samples were air-dried, sieved through 500um mesh and 1.0g digested, evaporated and analysed using Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS).Five (5) geo-environmental indices were used to quantitatively evaluate the degree of soil contamination due to iron ore mining. The anthropogenic factor (AF) for both seasons revealed that all heavy metals have greater than 50% AF except for Cd in the dry season. The geo accumulation index (Igeo) for both seasons showed background concentration to unpolluted for Cu and Zn while Fe, Ni, Cdand Pb recorded moderately to very highly polluted. The pollution index (Eri), showed tiny hazard level for all the heavy metals in dry season and in wet season, Cd and Ni recorded strong hazard level while tiny hazard level were observed for Cu and Pb. The ecological pollution index for the area is strong (RI=323.25). Dry and wet season enrichment factor (EF) revealed background concentration for all the heavy metals except Fe with EF> 40 (extremely high enrichment). While contamination factor (CF) was very high for Fe in both seasons, Cu and Ni recorded considerable to very high contamination in dry season. The wet season also revealed considerable contamination for Ni and Cd; moderate to considerable contamination for Cu, Zn and Pb. The sites in both seasons have experienced various degrees of deterioration but more significant in wet season. Based on these indices, the soils around Itakpe iron-ore area has suffered significant degrees of contaminations with respect to Fe, Ni, Cd and Pb.


1970 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
AS Chamon ◽  
MN Mondol ◽  
B Faiz ◽  
MH Rahman ◽  
SF Elahi

The main focus of the study is Tejgaon industrial area which is located within the Dhaka City Corporation and about 5 km north of the city centre. The industries around the study area like battery, chemical manufacturing, electrical and electronic, metal finishing, mining, paint and dye, textiles, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, etc, discharge heavy metals like Ni with their effluents and wastes. At Tejgaon soil the minimum pH value was 5.3 and the maximum 7.6 (at 26°C). High buffering capacity resulting from high soil organic matter content (4.87-11.55%) probably influenced soil pH. Electrical conductivity (EC) (25-551 μS/cm) and organic matter (OM) (4.87-11.55%) contents were also influenced by the industrial wastes and effluents of the factories. In the wet season, the average Ni concentration in different soil fractions was 1.69, 4.16, 13.21 and 93.12 mg kg-1 in water-soluble, NH4OAc extractable, DTPAextractable and total fractions respectively. Comparing wet season and dry season sampling data, total Ni concentrations in different locations were higher in the dry season and the mean concentration of total Ni was 223.89 mg kg-1, which was more than 4 times higher than the tolerable limit. Concentrations of total Ni in different locations during wet season were found above the natural background level with few exceptions. Ni concentration in the group of tolerable level was 21% (>022-=50 mg kg-1) and 75% (=50 mg kg-1) soil samples were found in the group of in excess of tolerable level during wet season. During dry season, 11% of Ni (=50 mg kg-1) samples were in the normal range and 89% (>50 mg kg-1) soil samples were found in the group of in excess of tolerable level. Ni concentration during dry season samples in different extraction i.e in NH4OAc extractable, DTPA extractable and in total fraction was found to decrease with distance away from the disposal point source due to dilution of the effluent and water. The decreasing tendency with distance indicates the accumulation of metals by the industrial operations. Key words: Speciation,Tejgaon soil, Industrial area, Nickel.     doi: 10.3329/bjsir.v44i1.2717 Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res. 44(1), 87-108, 2009


2019 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 282-295
Author(s):  
C. Isaac ◽  
P. N. Turay ◽  
C. U. Inegbenosun ◽  
S. A. Ezekiel ◽  
H. O. Adamu ◽  
...  

SummarySchoolchildren in primary schools are mostly at risk of acquiring soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) infections due to their habits (geophagy, onychophagy and playing with barefoot). Profiling soil parasites on school playgrounds is expected to provide an insight to an array of parasites schoolchildren are constantly at risk of acquiring; and this information could guide on intervention programmes. Soil samples from sixteen primary school playgrounds in Edo State (South-South, Nigeria) were collected over a six-month period both in the dry (January, February and March) and wet (May, June and July) seasons in 2018 and early 2019. Samples were processed and analysed following standard parasitological procedures. Of the 576 soil samples collected, 318(55.2 %) were positive with one or more soil parasites. Generally, the predominant parasites recovered from the total number of soil samples collected were: Ascaris 127(22 %), Strongyloides 111(19.27 %) and hookworm 50(8.68 %). Ascaris was most preponderant in the dry season, while Strongyloides was the most occurring in the wet season. The mean differences in the parasite load for Ascaris and hookworm between dry and wet seasons were not significant; while for Strongyloides it was higher in the wet than dry season. These results could be a consequence of observed poor state of toilet/sanitary facilities as well as the lack or poor state of basic infrastructure like proper drainage and waste disposal systems in the host communities. There is therefore urgent need to interrupt the STHs transmission cycles in the environment and possibly in schoolchildren by instituting sustainable intervention programmes within schools located in STHs endemic regions like southern Nigeria.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Vanessa Rosine Nkouayep ◽  
Blandine Ngatou Tchakounté ◽  
Josué Wabo Poné

Helminthiasis and protozoans infections have been recognized as an important public health problem. The aim of the present study was to screen soil samples collected from 10 primary schools in the city of Dschang for the presence of soil-transmitted helminth eggs, cysts, and oocysts of protozoans. A total of 400 soil samples were collected around latrines, at playgrounds, and behind classrooms in each school. These samples were examined using the sucrose flotation method. From the result obtained, an overall contamination rate of 7.75% was observed. Five genera of nematodes (Ascaris, Trichuris, Capillaria, Cooperia, and hookworms) were identified, while neither cysts nor oocysts of protozoans were detected. The contamination rate and the number of species found were significantly different in wet season as compared to the dry season. During the rainy season, this rate was 12.5% with all the parasitic stages identified, while, in the dry season, the soil contamination rate was 3% with the presence of only two genera (Ascaris and Trichuris). This suggests that parasite infection may occur mainly in rainy season rather than in the dry season. The most common eggs were those of Ascaris with 2% and 5% contamination rates in the dry and rainy seasons, respectively. Also, the soils around latrines were more contaminated (11.9%) as compared to those collected behind classrooms (7.5%) and those at playground (2.5%). It was concluded that the pupils of these schools may have played a major role in the contamination of their environment. Thus, sanitary education, enforcement of basic rules of hygiene, and deworming remain a necessity in the entire population of the study area in general and in the schools in particular in order to prevent helminth infections and to ensure effective environmental health.


2022 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Odunayo Emmanuel Oyewole ◽  
Iyabo Adepeju Simon-Oke

Abstract Background Soil-Transmitted Helminths are a group of parasites that cause gastrointestinal infections in humans and require the soil to develop into their infective forms. Ecological factors such as soil temperature, soil pH and rainfall patterns are, however, important determinants for the successful transmission of soil helminths as they play a major role in their abundance and survival in the soil. The study investigated the ecological factors influencing the transmission of soil-transmitted helminths in Ifedore district, Southwest Nigeria. Results Out of the one hundred and ninety-two (192) soil samples from the study area, one hundred and fifty-two 152 (79.2%) were positive for the presence of soil helminths’ larvae and ova. Higher occurrence of soil helminths was recorded during the rainy months (n = 416) than during the months with no records of rainfall (n = 290). Sandy soil had the highest number of soil helminths 285 (40.4%), while clay soil recorded the least 88 (12.5%). Soil temperature showed negative correlations with the occurrence of Ancylostoma duodenale (r =  − 0.53) and Strongyloides stercoralis larvae (r =  − 0.36), while soil conductivity showed positive correlations with the occurrence of Ascaris lumbricoides (r = 0.28) and A. duodenale (r = 0.34). Conclusion It is evident from the study that ecological factors played a significant role in the occurrence and abundance of soil-transmitted helminths. This research is important for predicting and monitoring soil-transmitted helminthiasis in endemic countries, and to devise effective control measures.


Author(s):  
Sérgio Henrique Pinto Silva ◽  
Mélanie Martins Gonçalves ◽  
Fábio Henrique Ramos Braga ◽  
Neuriane Silva Lima ◽  
Wallace Ribeiro Nunes Neto ◽  
...  

Agriculture is the foundation of society, has provided humanity with its food needs for over ten thousand years. The use of pesticides in Brazil and the world has grown exponentially in recent decades. The objective of this study was assessment the use of agrochemicals and their environmental impact on agricultural production of the Island of Maranhão. The study area is located in Paço do Lumiar, Maranhão, Brazil. Soil samples were collected from agricultural land during the wet season (between the months of February and May) and dry season (between the months of September and October) seasons of 2018.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Chepkwony ◽  
Severine van Bommel ◽  
Frank van Langevelde

Abstract Background Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) are a serious threat to humans, wildlife and livestock, and cause severe economic losses in many tropical drylands. The effective control of TBDs has been constrained by limited understanding of what determines tick loads in animals. We tested interactive effects of several biological factors (sex, age and body condition), one environmental factor (rainfall) and one human factor (management type) on tick loads in animals. Methods We collected ticks on animals at four sampling sites in the semi-arid savanna area of Laikipia County, Kenya, of which two are commercial ranches and the other two are open pastoral grazing areas. From 2017 to 2019, we collected a total of 2038 ticks from 619 domestic animals from various cattle and camel herds and from 79 tranquilised wild animals. Results Generally, wild herbivores (zebras, rhinos and elephants) had higher tick loads than domestic animals. As 83% of the tick samples were taken from Boran cattle, we analysed tick load in these cattle in more detail. Boran cattle had high tick loads in the wet season, especially those animals in poor condition. No differences were found between female and male cattle, regardless of season. The calves had high tick loads during both the wet and dry seasons, whereas the sub-adult and adult cattle had less ticks during the dry season. Cattle on the intensively managed ranches had lower tick load than those in the transhumant management system. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of establishing effective control of ticks on domestic animals in transhumant management systems as tick loads were high on these animals in both the wet and dry season. Graphic abstract


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 712-723
Author(s):  
N. Eliakimu ◽  
R. L. Machunda ◽  
K. N. Njau

Abstract The aim of the study was to assess seasonal water quality variations in an earthen dam and their potential impact on the health of those using the water for domestic purposes. High values of chemical oxygen demand, from <0.7 to 87 mg/l, and turbidity, from 204 to 53,300 NTU, were reported. Turbidity and total suspended solids were the highest at the onset of rainfall, and generally declined from the wet to the dry season. Ammonia concentrations ranged from 0.14 to 270 mg/l and nitrate from 0.6 to 1,715 mg-N/l, and were highest towards the end of wet season, while NO2-N was highest (290 mg/l) in the dry season. There were some notably high phycocyanin (PC) pigment values (19.9 to 495 μg/l) unique to cyanobacteria, well above the WHO alert level of 30 μg/l. PC is associated with a variety of toxins affecting humans and animals. Possible sources of pollutants include animal droppings/urine and runoff from farms applying fertilisers. A further aim was to assess water treatability with a pilot inclined plate settler system for pollutants and microbial removal. The results of this study suggest that water treatment systems must be designed to take care of the worst influent water quality conditions.


Author(s):  
G. I. Oyet ◽  
P. Audu ◽  
B. S. Chibor

The effect of thermal radiation on the Physiochemical properties of soil around gas flare site in the Niger Delta region was assessed in Emuoha Local Government Area of River State, Nigeria, for a period of twelve months. Radiation profile was determined at different times (hours) – 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22, in the four seasons (early dry, early wet, late dry and late wet) of the year. Soil samples were taken at different depths (cm) (0-15 and 15-30) for physicochemical attributes at different distances (m) (0-150, 150-300, 300-450, 450-600 and 1000 -2000) from the flare site and thermal radiation was also determined at the respective distances. Results of effect of time and seasonal variations on radiation profile showed that environmental temperature (oC) ranged from 29.2 ± 0.3 at 22 hours of early wet season to 33.0 ± 0.4 at 14 hours of late dry season; radiation temperature ranged from 35.4 ± 1.2 at 22 hours of late wet season to 42.0 ± 1.4 at 14 hours of late dry season, while thermal radiation (w/m2) ranged from 490.83 ± 7.7 at 22 hours of late wet season to 535.69 ± 9.69 at 14 hours of late dry season. Results of effect of flare distance on physicochemical properties of soil showed that as the distance (m) from flare site increases from 0 – 150 to 1000 – 2000, the radiation intensity (w/m2) decreases from 603.84 ± 5.7 – 428.83 ± 0.75, and values of pH, OC, N, P,  and exchangeable cations - K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+ increases in the range {pH (4.94 ± 0.02 – 5.50 ± 0.00), OC (1.09 ± 0.01 – 2.05 ± 0.00), N (0.07 ±0.01 – 0.09 ± 0.00), P (10.90 ± 0.03 – 12.10 ± 5.19), K+ (0.28 ± 0.01 – 1.86 ± 0.01), Na+ (0.48 ± 0.00 – 1.04 ± 0.00), Ca2+ (1.65 ± 0.01 – 2.85 ± 0.00), Mg2+ (0.73 ± 0.01 – 1.24 ± 0.01)}, These values seemed not to be affected by the thermal radiation and flare distance , oil and grease and THC decreases in the range 203.30 ± 0.88 – 61.33 ± 0.33 and 352.90 ± 2.08 – 10.04 ± 0.04 respectively. Similar trend was observed with soil samples taken at 15-30cm depth. Statistical analysis showed there is significant difference (p<0.001) in soil attributes as distance from flare distance increases. Further studies should be carried out to investigate the relationship between soil around flare site and crop performance on different agro-ecological zone of Rivers State.


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