African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (2), pp. 183-1186, February 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic 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.

Corresponding author. E-mail: nmorsiopg@yahoo.com.

Accepted 27 December, 2004

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.