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International Journal of Zoological Research

Year: 2006 | Volume: 2 | Issue: 4 | Page No.: 323-333
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Authors

O.J. Owojori

S.O. Asaolu

I.E. Ofoezie

Keywords

Research Article

Schistosomiasis: Water Contact Pattern and Snail Infection Rates in Opa Reservoir and Research Farm Ponds in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

O.J. Owojori, S.O. Asaolu and I.E. Ofoezie
Human water contact pattern and Schistosoma infection rates in snails were studied in Opa Reservoir and Research Farm Ponds in Obafemi Awolowo University campus for a 12 month period covering both seasons of the annual cycle. This is with a view to know the water contact pattern and relate this to the potential for schistosomiasis transmission in the water bodies. Generally, water contact activities were more diverse and longer in the reservoir than in the ponds. Seasonal and daily variations were pronounced with water contact being most intense in the rainy season and in the early hours of the day till about noon. The water contact behavior in this area were quite age and sex related. The frequency and duration of contacts made by males were significantly higher than those of females (p<0.01). Although most water contacts were either personal or domestic, economic and recreational contacts dominated the duration and are therefore identified as risky contacts. Water contact of an economic nature peaked in the 20-29 years age group while that of recreational was maximum in the 10-14 age groups. The study on snail infection with Schistosoma showed that no infected snail was found in the ponds but infected snails were found in the reservoir in a site, S3, in November and December, 2002. Water contact pattern in this study was site specific with 76.1% of the total contacts made at the site where human Schistosoma type cercariae were also found. The implications are discussed.
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