PREVALENCE OF TAENIA SOLIUM TAENIASIS AMONG INHABITANTS OF TWO RURAL COMMUNITIES OF JOS SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Taenia solium taeniasis is an intestinal parasitic infection that is caused by the cestode Taenia solium, also known as the pork tapeworm. The infection causes serious public health and socioeconomic problems in endemic regions of the world. The prevalence of Taenia solium was investigated in Gyel and K Vom, two rural communities in Jos South Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria, in 2024. A total of one hundred and forty one (141) stool samples were collected and analyzed for taeniasis using the Copro Antigen Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (Copro Antigen ELISA) technique and a prevalence of 4.96% (7 out of 141) was observed. The age group with the highest prevalence of infection (8.82%) was 51 years and above, and the lowest prevalence of 3.26% was observed in the 21 to 30 year old group where 1 person out of 31 individuals was positive. Females had a higher prevalence (7.58%) of infection than males (2.67%), but neither age nor gender had a significant association with infection in the study area. In addition, there was no other risk factor that was significantly associated with infection. In order to reduce the prevalence of this infection in the study area, preventive measures such as proper sewage disposal, intensive method of pig rearing, thorough cooking of pork before consumption and mass enlightenment campaigns are suggested.