GULU UNIVERSITY MEDICAL JOURNAL

Gulu University Medical Journal (GUMJ) 2009/2010 Vol 5.
Abstract
Helminth Infection in Gulu Municipality
Sjoerd Redeker1; Peter Kizza2; Ambrose Katungi2; Julius Ocakacon2.
1 Leiden University Holland; 2 Gulu University Uganda
Introduction: Knowledge of the presence, the
distribution and the intensity of helminth infections,
is needed at different levels. At the National level,
it is a prerequisite for the planning of prevention
and control strategies. At the hospital level or at the
local level in general, it is of paramount importance
to decide on diagnostic strategies at the Out patient
Department (OPD) and in the Laboratory. Uganda is
one of the few countries in Africa South of the Sahara
with extensive control programs for schistosomiasis
and soil transmitted helminthes. Nonetheless, and in
spite of the availability of nation-wide data, the data
are not always accessible for use at the hospital or local
level. To create data that are suitable to complement
data generated by the national control programs, it is
essential to make use of a comparable methodology
Polderman et al. 2010; Odongo-Aginya et al.1995.
Study objectives
Data from the period before the war in North Uganda
suggest that Schistosoma mansoni could be highly
prevalent in certain parts of Gulu towns itself and
probably in villages around as well . The poor socioeconomic
conditions in the area have undoubtedly
resulted in high prevalence of at least some of the soil
transmitted helminths in Gulu area. On the basis of
these considerations the objectives of the research was
formulated as follows.
• To assess the prevalence and intensity of infection
of the most important intestinal helminths and
schistosomiasis in Gulu and adjacent townships.
• To compare the efficacy and the sensitivity of some
diagnostic procedures,
• (1) the Kato-Katz-procedure as used by the
National control programs,
• (2) The Aginya staining-procedure as developed
by Odongo-Aginya,
• (3) The Polderman direct-smear examination
as commonly used in hospital laboratories,in
Holland.
• (4) The stool culture procedure for Strongyloides
stercoralis, hookworms and Oesophagostomum
bifurcum, as extensively used by Polderman.
• (5) And the molecular procedure PCR in the
diagnostic of pathogenic intestinal Parasites
Study areas.
• Four schools in divisions of Gulu Municipality
were selected
• Kasubi Primary school,
• Baptist primary school Layibi,
• Pece pawel primary school
• Laro day primary school
Study design
Cross-sectional study was designed to assess the
prevalence and intensity of infection of the most
important intestinal helminths and schistosomiasis in
the adjacent of Gulu municipality.
Methods
All patients were registered using their name, age,
residential location and the duration. No attempts
were made to enquiries into complaints to avoid biasing
the microscopic results. Twenty pupils were selected
randomly using paper picking method
• The stool samples were examined by each of these
different procedures.
• The Aginya adaptation of the Kato-Katzprocedure
• Polderman adaptation of the Kato-Katz the
classical direct smear method.
• The Kato-Katz-procedure as used by the National
Schistosomiasis control programme
• The filter-paper Stool culture in Petri-dishes
Gulu University Medical Students’ Association (GUMSA) Passion for life 50