Relative prevalence of the human hookworm species, Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale in Jos-North Local Government Area of Plateau State

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine the relative prevalence of the two species of hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale) in 144 hookworm-positive stool samples from 2,800 school children attending 7 primary schools in Jos-North Local Government Area of Plateau State. Hookworm eggs, in about 4 g of the freshly passed faeces, were cultured to the third stage (1 3) larvae by coproculture at 24-28°C using the Harada and Mori Test Tube Method. Of the 144 hookworm positive coprocultures, 138 filariform larvae, representing 95.83% were recovered for N americanus and 41 filariform larvae representing 28.47% were recovered for A. duodenale. One hundred and three (71.5%) of the coprocultures had only N. americanus filariform larvae, 6 (4.2%) had only A. duodenale larvae in them while 35 (24.3%) were mixed infections (that is had the filariform larvae of both species. In all mixed infections, the filariform larvae of N. americanus were recovered from a higher proportion of the coprocultures when compared to that of A. duodenale in a ration of 8:1. Although, N. americanus was the predominant hookworm species in the present study, A. duodenale also occurred. © 2010 Academic Journals Inc.