Asymptomatic carriage of cysts of Entamoeba Histolytica among patients attending two hospitals in Maiduguri, Northeastern, Nigeria: the need for adequate tool for specific diagnosis.

Amoebiasis is the third common parasitic infection in about 10% of the world’s total population causing death after Schistosomiasis and malaria. A study was under taken to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic carriage of Entamoeba histolytica (E.histolytica). Two hundred (200) samples of stool were analyzed between March to October, 2010. Formol-ether concentration technique and iodine wet preparation was used for stool analysis. An overall prevalence of E. histolytica among asymptomatic patients was 56% out of the 200 samples examined. Males recorded a prevalence rate of (66%) and lower infection rate was observed among females (45.4%). Highest prevalence 73.9% was observed among age group 0-10 years while lowest (31.6%) was observed among age group 51-60 years. Subjects with secondary education had highest prevalence (82.1%) while those with tertiary education had lowest (30.2%). School-aged children had the highest cyst carriage (80.6%) while students had lowest (28.2%). Individuals whose source of drinking water is pipe borne water had highest cyst carriage (97.8%) while lowest cyst carriage (66.7%) was observed among those who drank well water. Highest cyst carriage (78.7%) was observed among males while lowest (30.8%) was observed among females who ate home-made food more often. Peri-urban settlers had the highest prevalence (65.9%) while lowest (36.5%) was observed among those who reside in highbrow areas. The 56% prevalence of asymptomatic cyst carriage calls for concern because of the possible health implications of amoebiasis and the risk of transmission to healthy individuals. There is need for a more sophisticated tool for specific diagnosis of the parasite.