Prevalence of Schistosoma Cercariae in Snail Vectors in Ntawogba Creek, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of Schistosoma cercariae in snail vectors in Ntawogba Creek, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria was investigated. Snail samples were collected from the bank of the creek using a long frying spoon and an improvised scoop net with a long wooden handle. Snails attached to vegetation and other substrata were hand-picked. Collected snails were counted and identified based on structural and morphological features of the shell and investigated for the presence of cercariae using the light exposure method. The snails were later crushed and the parasites concentrated using zinc sulphate flotation technique. A total of 118 snail samples were collected out of which 115(97.5%) and 3(2.5%) belong to two genera, Bulinus and Oncomelania respectively. A prevalence of 29(24.6%) was recorded. Out of the 115 snails Bulinus species, 26(22.6%) were positive for the presence of Schistosoma cercariae while all the 3 Oncomeania species were positive 3(100%). Out of the 75 cercariae shed by the snails, 65(86.7%) were shed by Bulinus sp while 10(13.3%) were shed by Oncomelania sp. The study established the presence of a snail intermediate host of Schistosoma spp. shedding cercariae in the study area. Deliberate health orientation of the people, provision of potation water to prevent the use of the creek as a source of water, and good sanitary habit will go a long way to prevent a possible increase in the prevalence of the infection.