Soil parasite contamination of public places within Lokoja metropolis, Kogi state

The study which was conducted within Lokoja metropolis, aimed at assessing the rate of soil contamination of school playgrounds, markets and recreational parks with Soil Transmitted Helminths (STH). A total of one hundred and sixty soil samples were collected from eight different sites and examined for various parasite stages using Zinc Sulphate floatation technique. The overall rate of soil contamination was 50.6% and the rate of contamination with STH was higher (80%-100%) in markets situated along the river bank whereas only one third (30%) of the samples collected from Mammy market and Lugard beach had STH. The species of STH encountered in the study were: Ascaris lumbricoides, Ascaris bovis, Taenia saginata, Strongyloides sp and Fasciola sp. The most frequently occurring STH were Ascaris lumbricoides, T.saginata and Fasciola sp. Mammy market contributed to the bulk of the Fasciola sp recovered from the soil samples. However, variations in distribution of STH across sites did not statistically differ significantly (d 2 = 159.65; P>0.05). The findings suggest a need for a strategic intervention to improve the sanitary status of public places in the city. Keywords : Soil contamination, STH, Niger-Benue River Valley, Lokoja, Nigeria