The prevalence of geohelminth eggs in cattle markets and botanical gardens in Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

The prevalence of geohelminth eggs was conducted in six cattle markets and three botanical gardens in four local government areas, in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. Of the 180 soil samples examined using the test tube floatation method, 47.7% of the samples were positive for helminth eggs. Ascaris lumbricoides had a prevalence of (21.8%), Trichuris trichuira (6.1%) and hook worm (20.4%), Fasciola gigantica  (10.2%), Taenia sp (1.4%), Toxocara canis (22.5%), Schistosoma bovis (3.4%) Stronglyloides stercoralis (10.9%), Sygamus trachea (1.4%) and Heterakis species (2.0%), were recovered from the soils. These results indicate that the soils ofBenin are contaminated and also suggest a vicious cycle of pollution by humans and domestic animals. Improving environmental sanitation by encouraging proper sewage disposal and treatment, good animal husbandry practice and public health enlightenment is imperative for the control of soil transmitted helminthiasis inBenin City.