Drinking Water Source and The Prevalence of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum Among Children in Selected Villages of Pawi Special District, Benishangul-Gumuz Region.
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Date
2007-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum are parasitic protozoans that infect
humans as well as domestic and wild animals all over the world. These parasites are
implicated in many water borne disease outbreaks in different parts of the world. The
present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of these two parasites among
children below 14 years old that drink water from unprotected water sources-Ali-spring,
Diga dam, and hand dug wells and “protected” wells with hand pumps in selected
villages (Almu, K2V24 and K2V23/45) in Pawi Special District Benishangul-Gumuz
Region. Single stool specimens were collected from a total of 384 children from the three
villages. For identification of Cryptosporidium parvum the modified Ziehl-Neelsen
staining method was used. Giardia lamblia was detected using direct microscopy based
on wet mount and formalin-ether concentration techniques. Out of the 384 children
examined, 102 (26.6%) and 31 (8.1%) were found positive for G.lamblia and C.parvum
infection, respectively. Overall co-infection with intestinal parasites was detected in
4.4% of the study participants, in which G.lamblia and C.parvum comprised the highest
proportion. Prevalence of giardiasis in female children was significantly higher than in
the males (p<0.05), suggesting a higher risk of exposure of females to contaminated
water. However, no significant association was observed for infection of
cryptosporidiosis between the two sexes (p>0.05). G.lamblia and C.parvum infection
prevalence was not significantly different among the different age groups (p>0.05). On
the other hand, the prevalence of G.lamblia and C.parvum was associated with the
source of drinking water with more cases of giardiasis detected in study participants
using water from unprotected water sources than those using the “protected” water
(p<0.05). Contrary to this, more cases of cryptosporidiosis (P<0.05) were detected in
those using “protected” water sources (water wells with hand pumps). This could be an
indication of the possibility of water well contamination through seepage from domestic
latrines as these wells are constructed close to residential houses. Children from
relatively high monthly income families were less (P<0.05) affected by giardiasis than
from low monthly income families; however, no such association was detected in the
case of cryptosporidiosis. Furthermore, breast feeding and its duration was negatively
associated (P<0.05) with G.lamblia prevalence suggesting a protective role for breast
milk against giardiasis. Thus from the finding of the study one can conclude that
provision of well protected and treated drinking water must be considered a priority to
reduce the existing high prevalence of giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis in Pawi Special District.
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Biology