Abstract

Chollom S. C*, Chollom R. S, Gbise S. D, Kaigama A. J, Dyek Y. D, Gideon B. A, Ajayi O. T, Nimbut L. B, Maxwell I. K, Dauda P. K and Nwankiti O. O

This study was designed to estimate the prevalence and speciation of hookworm in Plateau State. 592 faecal samples were collected from patients with abdominal discomfort from six health facilities in the state and examined for presence of parasitic eggs or cysts. Among them, 147 (24.8%) were positive for at least one parasitic egg or cyst, whereas 39 (6.6%) had hookworm eggs alone. Hookworm was found in all the localities. Langtang South had the highest prevalence (1.5%), while Shendam had the lowest (0.7%). Females were more infected with hookworm (3.9%) than males (2.7%). Age group 1 to 10 showed more positive rate (33.3%), whereas subjects 0.05) in the prevalence rate observed with respect to gender, age and location. Among the 39 samples positive for hookworm eggs, it was determined that 23 (59.0%) were Necator americanus and 9 (23.1%) were Ancylostoma duodenale, whereas 7 (17.9%) samples contained both species when Harada-Mori larvae recovery was used. The findings showed that Plateau State has a prevalence rate of 6.6% for hookworm infections with N. americanus as the dominant specie.