The helminthic and protozoal infestations in a rural population of Northern Nigeria.

The prevalence of helminthic and protozoal infestations was studied among 778 individuals from a rural area of Northern Nigeria. The principal helminths present were Necator americanus or hookworm (46.27%, Hymenolepis nana (2.31), Enterobius vermicularis (1.29%), Taenia saginata (1.16%), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.51%), strongyloides stercorlis (2.26%) and Trichuris trichiura (2.26%). The prevalence of hookworm infestations was 60.51 % in males and 34.51% in females (P< 0.001). The principal protozoa were Entamoeba coli (22.24%), Giardia lambia (8.11%), Trichomonas hominis (4.87%), lodoamaeba butschlii (1.80%) and Entamoeba histolytica (1.41%). The cystic forms were more prevalent than the vegetative forms (JPMA, 35 : 350, 1985).