15 - 21 Maqbool A.pmd

Parasitic infections are prevalent in areas of poor sanitation or where night soil is commonly used as fertilizer. People in endemic areas do not wash food thoroughly with clear water before eating and faeces are not disposed far from food or water sources. A survey of some parasitic diseases was made in 12 various localities (6 urban and 6 rural) of Lahore. A total of 3600 human faecal samples were examined by direct smear, floatation and sedimentation techniques. Of these 960 (26.66%) harboured parasitic ova, oocysts and/or cysts. From 960 infested samples 510 (53.12%), 215 (22.39%), 165 (17.18%) and 70 (7.29%) showed one, two, three and four types of parasitic ova, oocysts or cysts respectively. Overall helminth infection rate was 612 (63.75%) and protozoan 348 (36.25%). Helminthic infestation included Ascaris lumbricoides 245 (40.03%), Enterobious vermicularis 100 (16.33%), Ancylostoma duodenale 70 (11.43%), Trichuris trichiura 38 (6.20%), Hymenolepis nana 20 (3.26%), Echinococcus granulosus 67 (10.94%), Taenia spp. 45 (7.35%) and Fasciolopsis buski 27 (4.41%). Amongst 960 cases, 348 showed protozoan infection indicating Giardia spp. 180 (51.72%), Cryptosporidium spp. 96 (27.58%) and Isospora spp. 72 (20.68%). In another study, the efficacy of herbal drugs was compared with each other and with modern anthelmintic i.e. mebendazole (vermox). Lagenaria siceraria seeds at the dose rate of 200 mg/kg body weight was 92.3% effective against nematodal infection whereas it was 92% against cestodal infection. Caesalpinia crista was 84% effective against nematodal infection and 88.9 % effective against cestodal infection. Mebendazole at the recommended dose rate was found to be 96.3% and 92% effective respectively against nematodal and cestodal infections. This work indicates the prevalence of important causes of parasitic zoonosis in Pakistan environment and also suggests control programme.