Sludge nematodes, cestodes, and trematodes eggs variation from lagooning, activated sludge and infiltration-percolation wastewater treatment system under semi-arid climate

The prevalence and the identification of the helminth eggs load of raw sewage sludge was assessed of three different wastewater treatment systems. The results showed a variety of parasite species with following average concentrations; five taxa belonging to three classes nematodes, cestodes and trematodes were inventoried. The class of nematodes is the most diverse with 5 taxa. It is represented by the eggs of Ascaris sp., Capillaria sp., Trichuris sp., Toxocara sp., and Ankylostome sp., then comes the cestodes class, this is represented by the eggs of Tænia sp. The trematode class is represented by Schistosoma sp. The lagooning station of Chichaoua shows the highest load 7 species with Ascaris 21 eggs/g; Capillaria sp., 11 eggs/g; Trichuris sp., 6 eggs/g; Toxocara sp., 2 eggs/g and Ankylostome sp., 1 egg/g; Taenia sp., 2eggs/g; and Schistosoma sp., 1 egg/g. Infiltration-percolation sludge show the presence of 4 species of helminths eggs in sludge from anaerobic settling with different rates: 15 eggs/g for Ascaris sp., 15 eggs/g for Trichuris sp., 13 eggs/g for Capillaria sp., and 8 eggs/g for Taenia sp. However, in sand filter pool, the sludge helminth eggs load was decreased by 47% of Ascaris sp., 85% of Capillaria sp., and 75% of Taenia sp., Nevertheless, an increase of Trichuris eggs load was noted in the second sludge by 17%. Five helminth eggs was detected in primary sludge coming from decantation pools in activated sludge plant in Marrakech, that is Ascaris sp., with a load of 16 eggs/g; Capillaria sp., with 3 eggs/g, Trichuris eggs with 2 eggs/g; Taenia sp., with 4 eggs/g; and Schistosoma sp., with 2 eggs/g. The abatement load of Ascaris sp. with 81% and Schistosoma and Taenia sp., with 100% was noted in biological sludge. Nevertheless, an increase load of Capillaria and Trichuris eggs 81% and 75% respectively was observed in this sludge coming from biological pools. The distribution of parasitic helminth eggs is linked to the differences in demographic and socio-economic status, seasonal variation, physico-chemical characteristic of helminth eggs, and the purification wastewater system performance.