SOIL-TRASMITTED PARASITES IN VEGETABLES IRRIGATED WITH WASTE-WATER IN FAYOUM GOVERNORATE, EGYPT

Abstract

No doubt, irrigation with waste water became a painful reality in villages in Fayoum Governoratemostly because of water scarcity and improper sewage disposal. Ingestion of raw vegetablesparticularly when fresh imposes a great risk on population. Protozoa cysts as Entamoeba,Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora and helminthic eggs can readily be transmitted by contaminatedwater or vegetables.The study evaluated the contamination and infectivity of raw fresh vegetables in some FayoumGovernorate villages, which used waste water for irrigationThis cross-sectional study microscopically evaluated 360 fresh vegetable samples from differentareas in for parasitic infective stages and potential infectivity. Also, 400 native patients sufferedfrom gastrointestinal manifestations were examined for parasitic infection(s). Morning stoolsamples were microscopically examined for parasitosis. direct microscopy, concentration methods,staining with trichrome and modified ZN stain, Rapid immune-chromatographic assay forCryptosporidium, Giardia end Entamoeba spp. are done.The results showed that increased prevalence of parasitic contamination in villages of FayoumGovernorate, due to notorious of water shortage and use of untreated sewage water for irrigation,also there is corresponding increase in parasitic infection among population of the same locations.