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. 2012 Jan;2(1):24-8.
doi: 10.4103/2229-5070.97235.

Prevalence and intensity of infections of three neglected tropical diseases in patients consulted at a Traditional Health Care Centre in Dschang West Cameroon

J Wabo Pone  1 , Mpoame Mbida, P Nkeng Efouet Alango, Cf Bilong Bilong
Affiliations

Prevalence and intensity of infections of three neglected tropical diseases in patients consulted at a Traditional Health Care Centre in Dschang West Cameroon

J Wabo Pone et al. Trop Parasitol. 2012 Jan.

Abstract

Background: In recent times, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections seem to loose more and more interest due to the fact that resources are being justifiably diverted to more recent priorities such as HIV/AIDS and malaria. In developing countries, the upsurge of intestinal helminth infections constitutes a problem not only of public health concern but also of development.

Aim: To find out the prevalence of STH infections in persons visiting the traditional health care centre in west Cameroon.

Materials and methods: In order to evaluate the prevalence and intensity of STH infections, in persons visiting the centre of phytomedecine, a parasitological investigation of feces was carried out in 223 stools, using three techniques (direct examination, concentration method of Willis, and Mc Master technique).

Results: 130 stools were collected from male and 93 from female subjects, hence a sex ratio of 1.4:1. Among the 223 stools examined, 97 specimens were found to be positive with one or several parasite species, thus giving a prevalence of 45.3%. The parasitism occurs from early age (1-10 years) reaching 4.5%. The most infected age group was 21-30 years (31%). Female subjects (28.3%) were statistically more infected than males (15.2%). The intestinal nematode species found were Trichuris trichiura (19.2%), Ascaris lumbricoides (13.4%), and hookworm (10.7%). These parasites occurred as single (19.2%) or multiple infections (10.3%). The mean fecal eggs count was 3722±672, 875±462, and 563±283 for A. lumbricoides, hookworm, and T. trichiura, respectively.

Conclusion: These results show the necessity of the application of suitable measures which are aimed at reducing the extent of STH.

Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides; Cameroon; Trichuris trichiura; hookworm; soil-transmitted helminths.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of the entire population of the study according to age groups
Figure 2
Figure 2
Variation of the prevalence (%) of nematode infections in the entire population of the study according to age groups
Figure 3
Figure 3
Variation of the prevalence (%) of nematode infections in the entire population of the study according to sex
Figure 4
Figure 4
Variation of the prevalence (%) of each parasite in the entire population of the study
Figure 5
Figure 5
Variation of the prevalence (%) of the type of parasitic combination in the entire population of the study
Figure 6
Figure 6
Variation of the parasitic burden in the entire population of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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