+44 330 818 7254Jonathan K. A. and Agbolade O. M*.
Plasmodium and Loa loa infections were studied among secondary schools students and teachers, and ante-natal patients of Ijebu-North area, southwestern Nigeria. Blood samples from 743 (323 males and 420 females) volunteers were collected between March 2007 and March 2008, and analyzed by thin and thick smears stained with Leishman and Giemsa stains, respectively. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain information including use of mosquito net, window and door nettings, and use of insecticides, from each volunteer. Out of the 743 subjects examined, 47.4% had Plasmodium infection and 15-19 years age group (67.4%) had statistically highest prevalence (c 2 = 40.736, P < 0.05). Out of the four Plasmodium species recorded, P. falciparum (62.8%) was statistically most prevalent among the study population (c 2 = 89.444, P < 0.05). 35/743 (4.7%) had L. loa infection. The intensity of L. loa microfilariae (mf) ranged from 1 to 3mf/50μL of blood. From the examined subjects 13.5% were window and/or door net users, 2.4% used treated net, and 19.9% used insecticides. The findings of this study underscore the need for policy makers and health authorities to do more towards sustainable control and eradication of Plasmodium and L. loa infections in Ijebu North area, southwestern Nigeria.
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