Laboratory and Sonographic Assessment of Intestinal Parasitic Load of Peasant Farmers in Emekuku Village in Nigeria

Background: Intestinal parasites (IP) are organisms that live and strife within the host for harm or mutual benefit, is a global concern infecting over 3 billion people and causing morbidity in about 450 million people worldwide of which the developing countries are most affected, the majority being school children, rural dwellers, and peasant farmers. Parasitic load (PL) in our locality has not been assessed, or determined, and comparisons made based on biographic data of the peasant farmers.

Objective: The study was aimed at determining the PL of peasant farmers in Emekuku by Laboratory and Sonographic examinations.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design with a purposive non-probability sampling technique was used to select 126 subjects within the age group of 20 years to 90 years of both sexes. Stool specimens were collected, Wet preparation and Concentration Methods were used for laboratory investigation and comparisons were made. Sonography was used for the confirmation and characterization of IP. Data were analyzed with simple descriptive statistics and chi-square.

Results: Wet prep technique recorded 10 (7.94%) positive cases while the Concentration method recorded 44 (34.92%) positive cases (P < 0.05). Ascaris lumbricoides amongst other IPs had the highest manifestation in the study, most prevalent in the age group 80 to 89 years,10 (62.5%) and more occurring in the female 10 (15.87%) and significant (P =0.039967). Sonographic indices for confirmation of IP were 4 (80.0%) out of 5.

Conclusion: Sonography complements the role of Laboratory stool analysis for the presence, characterization, location, and complications of IP such as Ascaris lumbricoides.