PREVALENCE OF INTESTINAL PROTOZOAN INFECTIONS IN APPARENTLY HEALTHY AND DIARRHOEAL PATIENTS IN ZARIA AND KADUNA, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA.

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections in apparently healthy and diarrhoael patients in Zaria and Kaduna. A total of 1,005 stool samples were collected and examined via the direct microscopic examination, formol-ether concentration technique and safranin-methylene blue staining technique for the presence of Cryptosporidium oocysts. Out of the 1,005 samples examined, 605 were from the apparently healthy people, consisting of 306 males and 299 females. While 400 were diarrhoeal patients, comprising 200 males and 200 females, all in Zaria and Kaduna. Intestinal protozoans were detected in 75 (7.5%) of the total number of persons examined, among which 31 (5.1%) were from the apparently healthy and 44(11.0%) were diarrhoeal patients. Result shows the following prevalence rate in the apparently healthy people: Entamoeba histolytica 25 (4.1%), Giardia lamblia 5 (0.8%), Entamoeba coli 1(0.2%) and Cryptosporidium parvum (0%), while prevalence rate in the diarrhoael patients were more: Giardia lamblia 21 (5.3%), Entamoeba histolytica 16(4.0%), Entamoeba coli 5 (1.3%) and Cryptosporidium parvum 2 (0.5%).The implication of the findings in relation to gender and age are discussed.