Prevalence of Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Intestinal Protozoa among School Children in Lome, Togo

Background: Significant morbidity in children is associated with infectious diseases especially soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections which are prevalent in sub-Saharan African countries.The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of STH and intestinal protozoa among schoolchildren in Lomé, Togo.Patients and Methods: In November 2013, in each of the five districts of the Lomé-commune region, thirty pupils per level of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades of five primary schools were included.Each child submitted a single stool sample that was analyzed by the Kato-Katz method for STH.In addition, stool samples of school children selected in third and sixth grades were examined by direct visualization using saline and Lugol's stain for intestinal protozoa.Results: A total of 2944 children were enrolled at 25 schools.The overall prevalence of STH at schools was 5.0% (range 1.5% to 8.6%), was higher in boys than girls, and increased with age and grade.Hookworm was the most prevalent species (3.4% of children surveyed).Intestinal protozoa were found in 52.2% (765/1465) of children tested and commensal amoebae represented 22.7% of these protozoa identified.Entamoeba histolytica/dispar/moshkovskii and Giardia intestinalis were identified in 2.3% and 11.5% of children, respectively.Co-infestation was noted in 1.