Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41906058›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2026

The triple threat of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Entamoeba infections in Nigerian children.

Oluwaremilekun Grace Ajakaye, Ehizogie Egbeobauwaye Adeyemi, Muhammad Ali, Umoru Mohammed Askira, Timothy Auta, Joshua Babalola Balogun, Abednego Samuel Dahal, Emmanuel Offiong Effanga, Victor Stephen Njom, Amana Onekutu and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Oluwaremilekun Grace AjakayeLaboratory of Molecular Parasitology and Genomics of Neglected Tropical Diseases, Department of Animal and Environment Biology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, Nigeria. oluwaremilekun.ajakaye@aaua.edu.ng.
Ehizogie Egbeobauwaye AdeyemiDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria.
Muhammad AliDepartment of Microbiology, Federal University Gusau, Gusau, Nigeria.
Umoru Mohammed AskiraDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Timothy AutaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Dutsin-Ma, Nigeria.
Joshua Babalola BalogunDepartment of Animal and Environmental Biology, Federal University Dutse, Dutse, Nigeria.
Abednego Samuel DahalDepartment of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Offiong EffangaDepartment of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Victor Stephen NjomDepartment of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria.
Amana OnekutuDepartment of Zoology, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka Univeristy, Makurdi, Nigeria.
Michael Ernest GriggMolecular Parasitology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Funding

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation INV-007175
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The epidemiological patterns and risk factors of three protozoan parasites, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Entamoeba, that cause diarrheal diseases in low-resource settings were investigated among children aged 10 years and below across ten states in Nigeria. Previous studies in Nigeria relied primarily on microscopy, a method with limited sensitivity for parasite detection, which underestimated the true burden of infection. We applied a real-time PCR technique on DNA extracted from 977 stool samples collected from children who answered a structured questionnaire in this cross-sectional survey. The overall prevalence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Entamoeba infections was 18.1%, 77.6%, and 12.3%, respectively. Coinfections were frequent, with 17.1% harbouring both Cryptosporidium and Giardia, 2.9% with Cryptosporidium and Entamoeba, 11.5% with Giardia and Entamoeba, and 2.8% with all three parasites. Jigawa State recorded the highest burden of coinfections (7.9%). Cryptosporidum infection rates were significantly higher in children five years and above, while males had higher Entamoeba infection rates. Giardia infection varied significantly with educational level. Trading was significantly associated with the burden of single infections and Cryptosporidium and Giardia, and Giardia and Entamoeba coinfections. Risk factors for infection and coinfection included geographical location, water source, household density, and contact with animals. The study highlights the importance of integrating molecular diagnostic tools into public health surveillance to accurately assess parasitic disease burdens and guide interventions. The high prevalence of Giardia, in particular, underscores the urgent need to improve access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in Nigeria. Addressing these infections through improved diagnostics, sanitation infrastructure, and targeted interventions could substantially reduce childhood morbidity and mortality associated with diarrheal diseases.

Indexed as

CryptosporidiosisCryptosporidiumEntamoebaEntamoebiasisGiardiaGiardiasisChildChild, PreschoolCoinfectionCross-Sectional StudiesFecesFemaleHumansInfantMaleNigeriaChildrenCryptosporidiumEntamoebaGiardiaNigeriaqPCR

Identifiers

PMID41906058
PMCPMC13039114

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.