Prevalence of Nematode Worms and Associated Risk factors Rukhsana Talat1*, Farzana Ibrahim1, Quratul Ain1, Zaira1 1Department of Zoology, Jinnah University for Women, Karachi-74600 Pakistan. ABSTRACT The prevalence of Nematode worms with special references to Ascaris lumbricoide, Enterobius vermicularis and Trichuris tricura were studied in different areas of Karachi City. A total 223 cases were recorded from seven different hospitals of Karachi city during January to December 2011. The total patients of Ascaris lumbricoides were 109 including 49 male with 44.95% and 60 female with 55.04% while the total number of patients having Enterobius vermicularis were 95 from which 47 were male with 49.47% and 48 female with 50.52%. The total patients suffering from Trichuris trichiura were 19 including 9 male with 47.36% and 10 female with 52.63%. Keywords: Nematode worms, Intestine, Patients, Hospitals, Karachi. INTRODUCTION Parasitic intestinal infections caused by Nematode worms are most prevalent infections in human in developing countries and cause a significant morbidity and mortality in endemic countries. These Nematode worms also known’s as geohelminths and soil- transmitted helminthes which are most prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions due to improper facilities of sanitation (Savioli and Albonico, 2004 and Cappello, 2004) A lot of research work has been done on Intestinal infection Albonico et al., (1999) worked on control strategies of Nematode infection. Drake et al., (2000) Studied on the cognitive and development impacts of ascariasis, trichiuriasis and hook worm. Stephenson et al., (2000) observed malnutrition due to helminth infection. Bundy et al., (2001) observed the global epidemiology of Nematode infection. Crompton and Nesheim (2002) observed the impact of nutrition on helminthiasis. Siddiqui et al., (2002) studied the distribution of Intestinal parasites in a rural area of Karachi. Cappello (2004) observed the global health impact of Nematodes. Bonsal et al., (2004) recorded the incidence of Intestinal Parasites among the people of Low Socio-economic area of Chandigarh (north India) while Okyay et al., (2004) observed the prevalence and related factors in school children of Turkey. Khurana et al., (2005) made comparison among rural and Urban population in Chandigarh. Bethony et al., 2006 worked on ascariasis, trichuriasis and hook worm. Shaukat et al., (2006) observed the Intestinal parasitic record from Ehsanullah diagnostic laboratory in Karachi. Jacobsen et al., (2007) estimated the prevalence of intestinal infection among young children of highlands of rural Ecuator. Kabatereine et al., (2007) observed the impact of helminth control programme in Uganda children. Mehray et al., (2008) studied the prevalence and associated factors of Intestinal parasites among children in an Urban slum of Karachi. Hotoz et al., (2008) observed the helminth infection as a neglected tropical disease. Wani et al., (2008) recorded the helminthic infection in children of Kashmir Valley. Guadalupe et al., (2009) reported the Ascaris lumbricoides in newborns of infected mothers. WHO, 2010 present the updated global target of soil transmitted helminthiasis. Steinmann et al., (2010) observed rapid appraisal of helminth infection among school children in Oshoblist, Kyrgyzstan. Figueiredo et al., (2010) studied that chronic helminth infection are associated with immune hypo responsiveness.*Corresponding author: rukhsanatalat4@gmail.com 11 Vol 4 (1), January 2013; 11-16 Hsieh et al., (2010) detected the parasitic intestinal infection among laboures Kaohsiung. Talat et al., (2012) observed the prevalence of helminth infection in different areas of Karachi. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present research work was carried out for one year i.e. January to December 2011. The information was collected from Pathological Laboratories of different Hospitals of Karachi City as Saifee Hospital situated in Nazimabad, Sindh Govt. Hospital in Khokrapar Malir, Usman Memorial Hospital in Federal B Area, Ibn-e-sina Hospital in Gulshan-e- Iqbal, Haleem Hospital in Sakhi Hasan North Nazimabad while Khizar Hospital and The Hospital in Shah Faisal Town. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results represent information collected from 223 patients during a period of one year (from January to December 2011) from 7 different hospitals of Karachi i.e. Ibn-e-sina Hospital, Saifee Hospital, Haleem Hospital, Usman Memorial Hospital, Sindh Govt. Hospital, Khizra Hospital and The Hospital. Nematodes collectively reffered to as soil transmitted helminths parasites causing greatest worldwide cause of illness and are linked to lack of proper sanitation, lack of use of safe water and lack of hygiene therefore intestinal parasites prevails wherever there is poverty and effect the people of all ages. The summarized results are presented in Table IV which showed the prevalence of Nematode parasites 12 Vol 4 (1), January 2013; 11-16 Table I: Over all patients infected with Ascaris lumbricoides diagnosed from seven different hospital of Karachi City from Jaunary to December 2011. Months Iben-e- seena Hospital Saifee Hospital Haleem Hospital Usman Memorial Hospital Sindh Govt. Hospital Khizar Hospital The Hospital Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female . 13 Vol 4 (1), January 2013; 11-16 Months Iben-e- seena Hospital Saifee Hospital Haleem Hospital Usman Memorial Hospital Sindh Govt. Hospital Khizar Hospital The Hospital Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Table III: Over all patients infected with Trichuris trichiura diagnosed from seven different hospital of Karachi City from Jaunary to December 2011. Table II: Over all patients infected with Enterobius vermicularis diagnosed from seven different hospital of Karachi City from Jaunary to December 2011. Months Iben-e- seena Hospital Saifee Hospital Haleem Hospital Usman Memorial Hospital Sindh Govt. Hospital Khizar Hospital The Hospital Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Total Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female Male Female in all parts of Karachi City. The rate of infection of Ascaris lumbricoides (Table-I) is most common parasite, and was found in all parts of Karachi. The rate of intensity in females was found higher (Table IV) i.e. 44.95% in males and 55.04% in females. Enterobius vermicularis also cause a worldwide disease called Enterobiasis which is a second widest distribution and found also common in Karachi City (Table II ). The intensity of infection due to E. vermicularis was found 49.47% in males and 50.50% in females (Table IV). The distribution of Trichuris trichiura in different hospitals is represented in Table III and the overall summarized infection due to Trichuris trichiura was found 47.36% in males and 52.63% in females. (Table-IV). The geohelminth infections are highly prevalent due 14 Vol 4 (1), January 2013; 11-16 Table IV: Over all summarized record of patients of Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterboius vermicularis and Trichuris trichiura collected from seven different hospital of Karachi during Jaunary to December 2011. Hospitals Name Iben-e- seena Hospital Saifee Hospital Haleem Hospital Usman Memorial Hospital Sindh Govt. 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