Department of Medical Parasitology and Entomology

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://repository.mu.edu.et/handle/123456789/161

Browse

Filter results by typing the first few letters
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Item
    Assessment of Schistosoma mansoni Infection and Associated Risk Factors Among Elementary School Children in Gembella and Feleg-Daero, Mekelle City, Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-04-25) Abeba Teklu
    Schistosomiasis is a widespread parasitic infection transmitted through contact with contaminated water, posing a major global public health challenge, particularly in developing countries. It affects individuals of all ages, with children being among the most vulnerable. Identifying the prevalence, associated risk factors, and high-risk populations is crucial for designing and implementing effective prevention and control strategies. This study aimed to assess Schistosoma mansoni infection and the associated risk factors among elementary school children in Gembella and Feleg-Daero (Adis Alem) elementary schools, in Mekelle City, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to September 2024, employing a purposive sampling technique to select schoolchildren. A total of 308 stool samples collected from elementary school children aged 7 to 20 years were examined using the wet mount and Kato-Katz techniques. A pre-tested questionnaire was utilized to gather socio-demographic information and associated risk factors. The data was coded, entered, and analyzed using descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate logistic regression and the significance level was set at p < 0.05 with 95% confidence interval. The overall prevalence of Schistosoma mansoni infection was 51.0% (157/308), with a median infection intensity of 192 eggs per gram of stool (EPG) among infected individuals. Among the infected children, 26.1%, 49.7% and 24.2% had light, moderate and heavy infections respectively. Significant risk factors for Schistosoma mansoni infection included swimming (AOR: 4.89; 95% CI:1.35, 17.75, P<0.001), washing clothes in rivers or streams (AOR:3.72; 95% CI: 1.12,12.37, P<0.001), engaging in irrigation activities (AOR:1.03;95%CI: 0.28,3.77, P<0.022), and bathing in river (AOR: 2.19,95% CI, 0.17-28.76, P< 0.001) and water contacts with flowing river (AOR:1.41; 95%CI: 0.23, 8.50, P<0.001). Schistosoma mansoni infection among children in this study was alarmingly high, with nearly half of the infected cases classified as having moderate intensity. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions, including health education, improved access to safe water, and regular deworming programs, to effectively reduce the disease burden and its associated risks.
  • Item
    Investigating the prevalence and risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in humans and slaughtered cattle in peri-urban dogowning smallholder farms in Mekelle zone, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia
    (Mekelle University, 2025-10-28) MESSELE GEBREMICAEL
    Background: Cystic Echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus, poses significant public health and economic challenges in Ethiopia. Despite its impact, data on its prevalence in humans, slaughtered cattle, and dogs particularly in the Tigray Regional State, remain limited. Objective: Investigating the prevalence and risk factors of cystic echinococcosis in humans and slaughtered cattle in peri-urban dog- owning smallholder farms in Mekelle zone, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia. Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out from March 2024 to March 2025 involving 832 human participants, 212 cattle, and 384 dogs. Human participants were selected using a stratified sampling technique, while the peri-urban smallholder farms owning dogs were purposively selected in the Mekelle Zone. Hydatidosis screening was performed using abdominal ultrasound, and laboratory analysis was conducted on specimens from slaughtered cattle and fecal samples from their dogs. Microscopic examination (40×) was used to detect hydatid cysts in cattle and taeniid eggs in dog feces. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27, applying descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify factors associated with CE at a significance level of p < 0.05. Result: The overall prevalence of CE from six purposively selected sub-districts of Mekelle zone was found to be 0.24% (2/832) in humans, 22.64% (48/212) in cattle, and 17.45% (67/384) in dogs. The two human cases involved a 45-year-old male, and 50-yearold women. In cattle, distribution of cysts was primarily found (68.75%) in the lungs and (25.0%) in liver and (2.08%) each in the kidneys, heart, and spleen. Fertility and viability in cattle (68.8%) in lungs and (25.0%) in liver. CE prevalence was higher in male cattle (24.52%) than in females (16.0%), and poor body condition (40.0%) compared to those with medium (22.45%), and good (17.07%). Backyard-slaughtered cattle had a higher infection rate (34.69%) than those slaughtered in abattoirs (19.01%). Factors significantly associated with CE in cattle included age, sex, body condition, and slaughter location (p < 0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis adult cattle (AOR = 2.57; 95% CI:1.501,4.400; P = 0. 001), cattle with poor body condition score (AOR = 4.07; 95% CI: 2.177,7.618; P = 0.000), and cattle slaughtered at backyard slabs (AOR = 2.26; 95% CI: 1.300,3.940; P = 0.004) were more likely to acquire hydatid cysts than the others. After adjusting for potential confounders, dogs with stray roaming behavior (AOR = 2.93; 95% CI: 1.11–7.71; p = 0.029) and feed raw offal (AOR = 2.86; 95% CI: 1.38–5.93; p = 0.005) had significantly higher odds of CE infection. Conclusion: The present study showed that CE is a considerably prevalent disease in human, cattle and dogs in the study area. This emphasizes the need to avoid backyard slaughter practice, unsafe offal feeding of dogs, and proper waste disposal which requires public awareness on the use of abattoirs.