Spatial Distribution of Geohelminths in Awe and Nassarawa Eggon Local Government Areas of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

Helminth infections impose a great burden on poor populations in the developing world. This study investigated the spatial distribution and prevalence of geoheliminths from two hundred and eighty-eight (288) soil samples collected from Awe and Nassarawa Eggon Local Governments Areas (LGAs) of Nasarawa state, Nigeria. The result of this finding showed a predominance of Helminth species over other parasites group Strongyloides stercoralis was found to be the most prevalent species (41.61%) accompanied by hookworm species (33.21%) and Ascaris lumbricoides (10.22%). The least prevalent species, with 0.36%, were Giardia species, Platyosomum fastosum, and Trichuris trichiura (p< 0.0001). The study also recorded more geohelminths parasites occurring at shallow soil dept (56.93%) than in the deeper soil (43.07%), although their abundance with respect to soil depth was statistically the same (χ2=1.921, df = 1, P= 0.1657). The occurrence of soil-transmitted helminths and other parasites was highest in the market’s environment 99(36.13%), followed by the school’s environment 90(32.85%), and the least was dumpsites 85(31.02%). However, there no significant variation statistically in the distribution of parasites with respect to collection sites (χ2 = 0.40219, df = 2, P = 0.8178). The study found a significant difference (χ2=52.83, df = 2, p< 0.0001). In the prevalence of parasites in relation to their developmental stages, with larval forms 161 (58.76%) being the most dominant, followed by the ova with 111(40.51%) occurrence rate and the least in the adult parasite forms with 0.73% prevalence rate. The comparison of the prevalence of geohelminths between the two LGAs revealed a higher (54.38%) occurrence of parasites in Nassarawa Eggon LGA than in Awe LGA (45.62%) with no statistical variation (χ2= 0.76738, df = 1, p= 0.381). The helminths and protozoan groups observed in this study are an indication that the residents of these areas are at risk of infection with geohelminths. The results can inform public health strategies and interventions to mitigate the risk of parasitic infections in the study areas. The study's findings also suggest a further study to understand the factors contributing to the high prevalence of geohelminths in the study areas so as to develop effective control measures.