URINARY SCHISTOSOMIASIS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF SOME LOCAL-GOVERNMENTAREAS IN PLATEAU-STATE, NIGERIA - A PRELIMINARY PARASITOLOGICAL AND MALACOLOGICAL SURVEY

A preliminary parasitological and malacological survey was effected in rural communities of some Local Government Areas (LGA) in Plateau Sta te, Nigeria, to estimate the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and identify active transmission foci. Out of 2888 persons examined in si x LGAs, 1381 (47.82%) were excreting eggs of Schistosoma haematobium i n their urine. Prevalence rates did not vary significantly (P > 0.05) between the LGAs: Pankshin (62.4%), Shendam (40.2%), Qua'an-Pan (22.9% ), Langtang South (45.4%), Langtang North (58.8%) and Wase (50.0%). In fection rates were significantly different (P < 0.001) between the sex es. Many water bodies in the study communities were colonized by infec ted Bulinus snails. Snail infection rates varied significantly (P < 0. 001) between the dry and wet seasons. A positive correlation was obser ved between snail infection rates and the prevalence of S. haematobium .