Abstract

Malaria and schistosomiasis are two of the most frequent illnesses with public health implications in tropical and subtropical endemic countries. This study aimed to determine the intensities of Plasmodium and Schistosoma infections in riverine communities in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was designed, and a total of 1,060 blood, urine, and stool samples were collected for the analysis, and 720 were analysed for Plasmodium parasites and Schitosome eggs using standard laboratory methodologies and techniques. The highest intensity was found in Schistosoma haematobium (6.12), followed by P. falciparum (5.6), and the lowest was found in Schistosoma mansoni (4.33). According to sex and age-related intensities, females had the highest intensity (5.00) of P. falciparum in the 1–10-year age range. Males had a higher S. haematobium intensity (4.43) than females (2.75). In the different riverine populations, the intensities of P. falciparum, S. haematobium, and S. mansoni did not differ significantly (P > 0.05). Finally, among riverine villages in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, the overall intensity of Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma haematobium, and Schistosoma mansoni is 489 (6.89), 476 (5.60), and 448 (5.21), respectively. According to the researchers, infected volunteers should be treated with anti-malarial medications for malaria and praziquantel for schistosomiasis.