High prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections among asymptomatic individuals in rural and urban communities in conflict-affected Northwest Cameroon.

Calvin B Ebai, Irene U Ajonina-Ekoti, Joyceline B Ndonwi, Nicoline F Tanih, Flore N Ngoufo, Marcelus U Ajonina

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Article in Parasite epidemiology and control, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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6 authors.

Calvin B EbaiDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon.

Irene U Ajonina-EkotiDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon.

Joyceline B NdonwiDepartment of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon.

Nicoline F TanihDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, PO Box 63, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon.

Flore N NgoufoDepartment of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Bamenda, P.O. Box 39, Bambili, North West Region, Cameroon.

Marcelus U AjoninaGraduate School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, St Louis University Institute, Douala, Cameroon.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Intestinal protozoan infections remain an important public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, there is limited evidence comparing the epidemiology of intestinal protozoan infections in rural and urban settings. This study determined the prevalence of intestinal protozoan infections, identified associated factors, and compared selected diagnostic techniques among asymptomatic individuals in rural and urban communities of Northwest Cameroon. Methods: A school and community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between May and August 2025 in rural Bafut and urban Bamenda, Northwest Cameroon. A structured questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic and hygiene-related data. Stool samples were analyzed using direct wet mount, formol-ether concentration, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining techniques. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 28. The Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test, as appropriate, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess associations. Statistical significance was set at Results: A total of 270 participants aged 5-63 years were enrolled. Overall, 109 (40.4%) participants were infected with at least one intestinal protozoan species. The prevalence was comparable between the rural (41.5%) and urban (39.3%) settings. Conclusion: Intestinal protozoan infections remain highly prevalent among asymptomatic individuals in conflict-affected communities of Northwest Cameroon. Improved water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, along with the use of sensitive diagnostic techniques, may enhance control and surveillance of these infections.

Indexed as

Asymptomatic individualsCameroonIntestinal protozoan infectionsNorthwest RegionPrevalenceRisk factorsRural settingsUrban settings

Identifiers

PMID42903885

DOI10.1016/j.parepi.2026.e00550

PMCPMC13682466

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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.