Helminth and Plasmodium Falciparum Infections among Inhabitants of the Tono Irrigation Catchment Area in the Upper East Region

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2012-12-10
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Abstract
In Northern Ghana the Tono Dam is one of the major irrigational facilities constructed for dry season farming, serving as water source for domestic, livestock and for other farming purposes. However, the construction of irrigational facilities has generally been documented to cause an increase in parasitic infections due to the creation of ideal environmental conditions for the proliferation of the vectors of these infections. Between May 2011 to February 2012, a total of 333 people in five communities (Bonia, Yogbania/Yigbwania, Kwarania, Gia and Gaani) within the Tono Irrigational Area of the Kassena Nankana District of the Upper East Region of Ghana were studied for parasitic infections (mainly malaria, schistosomiasis and hookworm). An overall prevalence of 10.7% was found in the study population, with S. mansoni, S. haematobium, hookworm and Plasmodium sp being the main types of parasites identified. Although multiple infections were recorded, none of the subjects had all four parasitic infections identified. S. mansoni was one of two most widespread infections (found in all the five communities studied) with a prevalence of 19.22% and mean intensity of 6.14(+/-1.35) eggs/g of stool, followed by Plasmodium sp , also found in all five communities, with a prevalence of 5.11% and a mean density of 299.6 (+/-115.86 ) parasites/uL of blood. S. haematobium infections followed in terms of distribution, found in four of the five study communities with a prevalence of 1.50% and a mean intensity of 4.67(+/- 2.73) eggs/10mL of urine Hookworm was the least widespread parasite, found in only two of the communities, with an overall prevalence of 0.90% and a mean intensity of 5.5(+- 2.50) eggs/g of stool. S. mansoni infection was of the highest prevalence (27.27%) at Yogbania/Yigbwania with Bonia recording the least of 12.31%. Malaria had the next highest prevalence, with Kwarania recording the highest prevalence of 11.7% as against 1.30% recorded in Yogbania/Yigbwania (representing the least prevalence of malaria). S. haematobium infection was recorded in all communities except Gia. Among the four communities in which it was found, Bonia recorded the highest prevalence of 4.62% with the least value recorded in Yugbania/Yigbwania (1.30%). Factors such as contact with the canals or the dam itself, which serve as reservoirs of infection and lack of knowledge on the causes and prevention of these parasitic infections among many others such as inadequate protective gear usage during farming were identified as the major reasons for such rates of infection as recorded in this study. Correlation analysis showed Hb levels were not affected by infection with these parasites, however a very low Hb value of 6.6 g/dl was recorded in a female infected with both malaria and S. mansoni. A more concerted/ health education effort is therefore necessary in order to curb these rates of infections in the communities within the irrigated area.
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A thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Mphil. Degree in Biological Sciences (Parasitology), July-2012
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