Environmental Science

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11888/3192

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Browsing Environmental Science by Author "Adli Bassim Ibraheem Al-Kahah"

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    Water-Borne Pathogens With Relation To Gastroenteritis in Salfeet District: An Epidemiological Study
    (2001) Adli Bassim Ibraheem Al-Kahah; Yahya R. Faidy; Suleiman Al-Khalil
    A total of two hundred drinking water samples were collected randomly from roof storage tanks, during the summer season from June to August 1999. The area of study includes three villages (Bruqin,Farkha, and Kafr ad-Dik) in the district of Salfeet. Both the average total coliform counts and faecal coliform counts were used as indicators for water quality using the membrane filtration technique. Also water sample positive for coliform were further cultured for the isolation of Salmonella, Shigella, and E.c0Ii 0157:H7. Both indicators gave average counts higher than that recommended as safe drinking water by the WHO. The average counts of total coliform (CFU/100ml) in spring water were 15.4, in rainwater 19.4, and zero in water network. The average counts of faecal colifonn (CFU/100ml) in spring water were 9.4, in rainwater ll.4, and zero in the water network. These samples of the water network were free of contamination, while spring water and rainwater samples showed high contamination and Salmonella was isolated from spring water. Based on the average counts for both indicators, no significant variations were observed on the quality of drinking water in the studied villages. The degree of contamination based on total coliform counts in both spring and rain water was similar and the majority were with first degree of contamination according to the WHO classification, while all water network samples were free of contamination, (degree 0). Based on faecal colifomi E.c0Ii with respect to the risk levels, both spring and rain water were within low and intermediate risk levels according to WHO classification. The households with history of animal raising, extemal cistems door, distance of septic tanks from cistems less than 20m, and not cleaned cistems seem to have further effect on the contamination and risk levels compared to findings on households with no history of animal raising, intemal cistern door, distance of septic tank from cistern more than 20m,and cistem cleaning every year. During the period from l4 August to 19 October 1999 about 102 of stool specimens were collected from patients with diarrhea at two Public Medical Units located on Bruqin & Kafr ad-Dik villages. Prevalence rates of encountered parasites were as follows: G. lamblia 10.8%, E. histolytica 17.3%, and H.nana 5%. The findings indicated very weak association between drinking water source and intestinal parasites in this study.