CUTANEOUS ASPERGILLOSIS AND CANDIDIASIS ASSOCIATED WITH RICE FARMING IN PARTS OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Cutaneous aspergillosis and candidiasis associated with agricultural practices in Nigeria have a major health impact on rice farmers and other associated people. This leads to reduced productivity through decreased human resources, famine and places an additional burden on health care requirements, hence, the study on the distribution of cutaneous aspergillosis and candidiasis among rice farmers in Ebonyi State. A total of 2130 rice farmers were randomly selected and screened for cutaneous fungal infections. Hair fragments, skin and nail scrapings were collected using sterile scissors and scalpels from 182 rice farmers that presented with lesions suggestive of the infection. The samples were examined by direct microscopy using 5% potassium hydroxide (KOH) and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar supplemented with 0.05mg/ml chloramphenicol and incubated at 28°C ± 2°C for 2 days. The fungal isolates were identified by macroscopic and microscopic methods, and confirmed by molecular analysis. Demographic data and factors influencing the infection were obtained through questionnaires and analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at p<0.05 significant level with SPSS version 22. A total of 143 fungal isolates were recovered and included Aspergillus flavus 64 (44.76%), A. tamarii 41 (28.67%), A. nomius 30 (20.98%) and Candida albicans 8 (5.59%). Age, gender, educational status and family size of the farmers and their interactions with domestic animals/pets influenced the distribution of the fungal species. Out of the 182 rice farmers screened, 16-26 years age-group [71 (39.01%)] were most infected with the infection, followed by 27-37 years age-group [39 (21.43%)] and a decline between the age-group 49-59 years [15 (8.24%)]. The females were more infected 144 (79.12%) than the males 38 (20.88%). The infection among the females was found to be significant (P<0.05). In-depth knowledge of the etiologic agents of the infections and potential risk factors associated with rice farming in Ebonyi State could provide insights on control measures. In addition, effective reporting of the infections, risk awareness and appropriate intervention measures will assist in tackling the infections amongst rice farmers in Ebonyi State and the country at large.