A study of an outbreak of schistosomiasis in two resettlement villages near Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Frequent reports of haematuria among resettlers at Ibaro and Abule-titun located close to a newly constructed reservoir, 20 km north-west of Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, prompted a pre-control survey to assess age and sex distribution of urinary schistosomiasis in the communities. 210 persons were examined at Ibaro and 145 at Abule-titun between April 1988 and February 1989. Overall prevalence was about 80% in both villages, and all age and sex groups examined were affected. The pattern of infection in both villages was similar, prevalence being high in all age and sex groups, and, unlike most endemic communities, the rate of infection was not significantly higher among the 5-14 year age groups. Intensity of infection was also high in all age and sex groups with mean range egg output of between 73 +/- 73 and 2016 +/- 3875 ova/10ml urine at Ibaro and between 231 +/- 122 and 1340 +/- 1786 ova/10ml urine at Abule-titun. This is attributed to an occupation-related high rate of human water contact in both villages.