E3 Journal of Medical Research
E3 Journal of Medical Research Vol. 7 (1) pp. 007-012, January 2018; © E3 Journals; ISSN 2276-9900
Prevalence of human Myiasis infestation among primary school pupils in Ayamelum Local Government Area, Anambra State South- Eastern Nigeria
Okonkwo VO1 * , Okaka CE2 , Udeze HE11 Department of Biology, Nwafor Orizu College of Education Nsugbe, P.M.B 1734 Onitsha, Anambra State
2 Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin, Benin City Edo State, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author E-mail: victorchukwuzulum@yahoo.com
Accepted 6 December 2017
Abstract
Infestation of live human or other vertebrate host with true fly larvae belonging to the class Hexapod, order Dipterans is called Myiasis. A prospective prevalence study of human myiasis among primary school pupils in Ayamelum Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State was carried out from October 2015 to September 2016. The mean age of the subject was 7.3±1.9. Of the 3,250 pupils who participated in the study from eight towns that constitute the LGA 287 (8.8%) pupils were positive to myiasis. Cordylobia anthropophaga (tumbu fly) was found to be the predominating fly species involved in the myiasis infestation implicated in furuncular myiasis with 92.6% of the pupils. Other species such as Cochliomyia hominivorax /Phaenicia sericata (blow fly) and Musca domestica (house fly) were also found infesting the wounds with 3.3% and 4.1% pupils respectively. The prevalence pattern also varies considerably in 8 towns that constituted the LGA with location 2 with highest: 6.1% locations 5&7 lowest with 3.2% and 1.9% respectively. Age showed significant association with pupils ≤6years most susceptible p <0.01. The highest infestation rate was recorded between April to July usually the rainy season. The most frequently infested body regions were the scalp of the head, buttocks and thigh. Ignorance, filthy environment, unkempt little children, and dirty hygienic practices are major predisposing factors of myiasis infestation among primary school pupils in the area under study.
Keywords: Prevalence, Myiasis, Dipterans Larva, primary school pupil
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