Occurrence of bacteria, protozoans and metazoans in waters from two semi-urbanized areas of Cameroon

Abstract

Abstract This study was based on the assessment of the physico-chemical indicators of water quality and the enumeration of bacteria (total coliforms, faecal coliforms, faecal streptococcus, and Escherichia coli ), entero-pathogenic protozoans ( Cryptosporidium , Giardia , Cyclospora , and Isospora ), helminth eggs and the distribution of ciliated protozoa which are biological indicators of aquatic pollution. The mean abundances of total coliforms varied from 882 CFU/100 mL (wells) to 946 CFU/100 mL (springs) in the Obala area, and from 813 CFU/100 mL (springs) to 1056 CFU/100 mL (wells) in the Monatele area. Giardia sp., Cyclospora cayetanensis and Cryptosporidium sp. were the most abundant emerging intestinal protozoa isolated, while Metopus ovatus , and Caenomorpha medusula , were prominent indicators of the level of aquatic contamination that were identified in our study. These results revealed a deteriorating quality of the water exploited by these semi-urbanized communities, and a high sanitary risk that was linked to the presence of the numerous pathogens identified in the water samples analyzed.