by OKWA, O.O, KAPPO, R.M, HUSSAIN, S.O , OKWA, I.S
Parasitic infections remain a global public health challenge, particularly in public places with inadequate sanitation and hygiene practices. This study assessed the parasitic load on toilet seats used by male and female students at Lagos State University, Ojo Campus, between July and August 2024. A total of 140 toilet seats (70 male, 70 female) 20 each, across seven faculties were sampled using sterile swab sticks dipped in 70% normal saline. The samples were examined microscopically using wet mount, Lugol’s iodine, and Giemsa staining techniques. A total of 254 parasites were recovered with at least a specie from each toilet. Findings from the female toilets revealed four parasite stages, with Ascaris lumbricoides ova (48%) as the most prevalent, followed by Necator americanus larvae (31%), Strongyloides stercoralis larvae (12%), and Entamoeba histolytica cysts (9%). Male toilet samples revealed seven parasite types, dominated by S. stercoralis larvae (42.6%), N. americanus larvae (22.2%), and A. lumbricoides ova (15.7%). Faculty of Science toilets had the highest parasite load for both sexes. Risk perception was high as 93.3% of female and 73.3 % male students believed shared toilets were infection-prone. Overcrowding, inadequate water supply, and poor maintenance of the toilets were key contributing factors. The findings highlight the urgent need for improved sanitation infrastructure, regular cleaning with adequate materials, and health education campaigns. Addressing these gaps is critical to reducing the parasitic burden and ensuring safe public toilet use on the University campus.