ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research Vol. 2005
Available online at http://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ajmr
© 2005 International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Urinary schistosomiasis in a rural community in Edo state, Nigeria: Eosinophiluria as a diagnostic marker
Nmorsi OPG1*, Egwunyenga OA2, Ukwandu, NCD3, Nwokolo NQ1
1Department of Zoology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
2Department of Zoology, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria.
3Department of Medical Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
Accepted 27 December, 2004
Abstract
The prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in Ikpeshi, a rural community of Edo State, Nigeria showed that 195(65%) out of 300 volunteers harboured Schistosoma haematobium ova in their urine. Eosinophiluria was markedly significant > 5 eosinophilic leucocyturia/hpf and reported among 250 (83.3%) inhabitants. Of these, ova were absent in 55 (22.0%) of urine samples but had other associated urinary symptoms namely; proteinuria or haematuria or both. Eosinophiluria among the inhabitants with light infections as described by < 50 ova/10ml was 15.83 ± 15.98 x 109/L while heavy infections ( >50 ova/10ml of urine) was 107 ± 76.20 x 109/L. In all, the eosinophiluria showed a positive correlation with the S. haematobium ova excreted in their urine (r = 0.40046, p < 0.05). The sensitivities of the urinary symptoms are eosinophiluria (100%), proteinuria (56.0%), haematuria (80.0%), specific gravity (84.0%) and turbidity (76.0%). The eosinophiluria with the a relatively highest sensitivity can complement the use of ova in urine as a diagnostic marker especially in sub clinical cases and other periods when egg laying capacity of this fluke are suppressed or absent.
Key words: Eosinophiluria, urinary schistosomiasis, urinary symptoms, rural community, Nigeria.