| Title | Investigation of Waterborne Parasites in Drinking Water Sources of Ankara, Turkey |
|---|---|
| Author | Bilal Bakir 1, *, Mehmet Tanyuksel 2 , Fatma Saylam 2 , Sultan Tanriverdi 3,4 , R. Engin Araz 1 , Ali Kasim Hacim 1 , and Metin Hasde 1 |
| Address | 1 Department of Public Health, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, School of Medicine 06018, Ankara, Turkey; 2 Division of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology Gulhane Military; Medical Academy, School of Medicine, 06018, Ankara, Turkey; 3 Department of Parasitology, Mustafa Kemal University, School of Medicine, Antakya; 4 Department of Infectious Disease, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, North Grafton, Massachusetts, 01536, U.S.A. (Received January 22, 2003 / Accepted March 26, 2003) |
| Bibliography | Journal of Microbiology, 41(2),148-151, 2003, |
| DOI | |
| Key Words | water, waterborne parasites, Entamoeba, Cryptosporidium, Giardia. |
| Abstract | Waterborne parasite infections are considered a re-emerging threat. Most studies on the epidemiology of human cryptosporidiosis, giardiasis, and amebiasis have been carried out in developed countries, and there is little data on the occurrence of these infections in other areas. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of waterborne parasites such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lam-blia, and Entamoeba histolytica in various water samples in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 85 samples were examined, 43 from the municipal water supply, 34 from wells, 6 from the Ankara River, and 2 from two untreated dams; by conventional microscopy, immunologically and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Oocysts of C. parvum and cysts of G. lamblia were detected by using an indirect fluorescence (antigen) assay, whereas an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the cysts of E. his-tolytica and E. dispar. In addition, PCR was used for E. histolytica, E. dispar, C. parvum and G. lamblia detection. G. lamblia was found in 2 of the 34 well water samples, and parasites were found in 3 of the 6 Ankara River samples. The 1^st contained E. histolytica cysts and Strongyloides stercoralis larvae, the 2^nd E. histolytica cysts, and Trichuris trichiura eggs, and the 3^rd C. parvum oocysts only. No parasite was observed in the municipal water samples and untreated dam water samples. These results extend our knowledge on waterborne parasites, such occurrence information on waterborne pathogens assists the management and treatment of municipal water. |
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