Summary: The population of Juárez Valley, Chihuahua, has a high incidence of gastrointestinal parasites. For this reason, this study was conducted to determine the microbiological quality of drinking water as one of the possible factors that disseminate pathogens. Sanitary quality of drinking water from wells was determined in 14 rural communities of the Juarez Valley through the use of indicator microorganisms. The parasites Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia were detected by an immunomagnetic separation technique followed by an inmunofluorescence method to identify and count them. Coliform bacteria and fecal bacteria E. coli were isolated and detected by the membrane filtration method. A total of 92.8% of the sites evaluated evidenced the presence of coliforms in water samples. These samples, however, were negative for E. coli, which means there is no fecal contamination. Also, the presence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia oocysts were detected in water from 92.3% of the sites. These results suggest the need to promote mechanisms of quality control and processing of water in the communities considered in this study since chlorination has not been effective. Intensified surveillance is required in the water distribution network to reduce incidence of gastrointestinal diseases. | Resumen: La población del Valle de Juárez, Chihuahua, presenta una alta prevalencia de parasitosis gastrointestinales, lo cual motivó este estudio para determinar la calidad microbiológica del agua de beber como uno de los posibles factores diseminadores de patógenos. Se evaluó la calidad sanitaria del agua de uso doméstico proveniente de pozos, mediante el uso de microorganismos indicadores y evaluación de la concentración de cloro en 14 comunidades del Valle de Juárez. Los parásitos Cryptosporidium parvum y Giardia lamblia se detectaron mediante una técnica de separación inmunomagnética seguida por tinción con inmunofluoresceína, para su identificación y conteo. Las bacterias coliformes totales y el coliforme fecal Escherichia coli se aislaron y contaron por el método de filtración por membrana. El 92.8 % de las localidades mostró la presencia de coliformes totales en muestras de agua, aunque fueron negativas a E. coli. Se demostró la presencia de ooquistes de Cryptosporidium y Giardia en el agua del 92.3 % de las localidades. Se puede inferir de los resultados, la necesidad de promover mecanismos de control de calidad y procesamiento del líquido en las comunidades consideradas en este estudio, ya que la cloración no está siendo efectiva y por ende, se requiere que se intensifique la vigilancia en la red de distribución para disminuir la prevalencia de enfermedades gastrointestinales.

As doenças relacionadas com a água são importantes problemas de saúde pública no Brasil e em diversas partes do mundo. Dentre estas, destacam-se as parasitoses intestinais ou enteroparasitoses, por se associarem freqüentemente a quadros de diarréia crônica e desnutrição, acometendo, principalmente, as faixas etárias mais jovens. O presente trabalho objetivou realizar pesquisa sobre enteroparasitas no município de Viçosa em três cortes populacionais de crianças menores de sete anos de idade, buscando associar o achado positivo a fatores socioeconômicos e de saneamento local e à condições sanitárias do domicílio. Adicionalmente, os resultados positivos para protozoários intestinais foram analisados considerando a qualidade da água distribuída por diferentes sistemas de abastecimento e a presença de Giardia e Cryptosporidium em amostras de água bruta e tratada. A pesquisa de enteroparasitas, em amostras de fezes, foi realizada através da técnica de sedimentação espontânea em água, e a pesquisa de cistos de Giardia e oocistos de Cryptosporidium, em amostras de água, pela técnica de concentração por floculação com carbonato de cálcio e visualização por imunofluorescência direta (IFD). Também foi realizada pesquisa de Giardia e Cryptosporidium em amostras fecais por concentração com formalina e acetato de etila e visualização por IFD. A avaliação da qualidade da água distribuída foi realizada a partir da análise de dados secundários fornecidos pelos responsáveis pelos sistemas de abastecimento, considerando os parâmetros coliformes, turbidez e cloro residual livre. A prevalência média geral de enteroparasitas encontrada foi de 37,2% e 15,4%, 51,4% e 38,2%, para os grupos 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente. O grupo 2 apresentou 5,81 vezes mais chances de resultado positivo para enteroparasitas que o grupo 1; para o grupo 3, essa chance foi de 3,40 vezes. Os organismos identificados foram Ascaris lumbricoides (15,2%), Entamoeba coli (12,6%), Giardia lamblia (8,4%), ancilostomídeos (1,0%), Entamoeba histolytica (1,0%) e Strongyloides stercoralis (0,5%). Não foram encontradas associações estatisticamente significativas para as variáveis sexo , faixa etária , freqüenta creche ou escola , embora tenha sido observada tendência crescente da prevalência média nos grupos 2 e 3 com o aumento da idade e a maior prevalência média de protozoários entre as crianças que freqüentavam creche ou escola, além de maior prevalência média de helmintos entre as que não freqüentavam. Também não se verificou associação com variáveis de saneamento local e condições sanitárias do domicílio. A variável renda familiar esteve associada ao resultado positivo para enteroparasitas, sendo que os estratos sem renda , 1 a 3 SM e =ou< 1 SM apresentaram as maiores chances de resultados positivos, 12,5, 6,11 e 5,38, respectivamente. A pesquisa de Giardia e Cryptosporidium em 103 amostras fecais, pela técnica de IFD, identificou 9,7% de amostras positivas para Giardia e nenhuma amostra positiva para Cryptosporidium. Nas amostras de água bruta foram identificadas amostras positivas nos meses de dezembro/2002 e fevereiro/2002 (11,25 e 30,0 cistos/L) para Giardia e dezembro/2002 a abril/2002 (3,75 a 20,02 oocistos/L) para Cryptosporidium. Não foram detectadas amostras positivas para protozoários na água tratada distribuída pelos sistemas de abastecimento utilizados pela população estudada. A partir da pesquisa de protozoários e da avaliação dos dados do controle da qualidade da água desses sistemas, concluiu-se que a água distribuída se apresentou adequada ao padrão de potabilidade (coliforme, turbidez e cloro residual livre) expresso na legislação brasileira (Portaria MS no 1.469/2000). Considerando a água distribuída pelos sistemas de abastecimento do município, seu papel como veículo na transmissão de protozoários intestinais parece não ter sido relevante nas condições estudadas. Outros mecanismos de transmissão (pessoa a pessoa e consumo de hortaliças contaminadas) podem, possivelmente, apresentar papel mais significativo na manutenção dos ciclos de transmissão desses agentes nessa população. | Water related diseases are important problems of public health in Brazil and worldwide. Amongst these, intestinal parasitoses or enteroparasitoses are distinguished because they are frequently associated to chronic diarrhea and malnutrition, striking mainly younger age groups. The objective of this work was to investigate enteroparasites in the municipal district of Viçosa in three population sectors of children under seven years old, associating positive findings to socioeconomic and local sewerage factors and to sanitary dwelling conditions. Additionally, positive results for intestinal protozoa were analyzed considering quality of water distributed by different supply systems and presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in samples of treated and nontreated water. Enteroparasites investigation in feces samples was carried out through water spontaneous sedimentation technique and the investigation of Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts, in samples of water through concentration by calcium carbonate flocculation and direct immunofluorescence (IFD) visualization. Investigation of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in feces samples using concentration with formalin and ethyl acetate and visualization by IFD. The evaluation of the distributed water quality was performed by analyzing secondary data supplied by people in charged of the supply systems, considering the parameters coliforms, turbidity and free residual chlorine. The average prevalence of enteroparasites was 37.2 % and 15.4%, 51.4%, and 38.2% for groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Group 2 presented 5.81 times more likely of positive finding for enteroparasites than grupo1; for group 3 the chance was 3.40 times. Organisms identified were Ascaris lumbricoides (15.2 %), Entamoeba coli (12.6 %), Giardia lamblia (8.4 %), ancylostoma (1.0 %), Entamoeba histolytica (1.0 %) and Strongyloides stercoralis (0.5 %). No statistically significant associations were found for variables gender , age group , nursery or school attendance , although an increasing tendency of the mean prevalence has been observed in groups 2 and 3 with increasing age and larger mean prevalence of protozoa among children attending school or nursery, as well as larger mean prevalence of helminthes among those not attending. Also, no association was verified with the variables local sewerage and sanitary dwelling conditions. The variable family income was associated to positive finding for enteroparasitas with the strata without income , 1 to 3 MW , and =or< 1 MW presented the largest chances of positive results, 12.5, 6.11, and 5.38, respectively. The investigation of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in 103 feces samples, using IFD technique, identified 9.7 % of positive samples for Giardia and no positive sample for Cryptosporidium. Positive samples were identified in nontreated water samples in December/2002 for Giardia and February/2002 (11.25 and 30.0 cysts/L) and December/2002 to April/2002 (3.75 to 20.02 oocysts/L) for Cryptosporidium. Positive samples for protozoa were not detected in the treated water distributed by the supply systems and used by the population studied. Results of protozoa investigation and evaluation of water quality control data in these systems led to the conclusion that the water supplied met the drinkability standards (coliform, turbidity and free residual chlorine) expressed in the Brazilian legislation (Law no 1.469/2000 MS). In the conditions of this study, the role of the water distributed by the city s supply systems as vehicle in intestinal protozoa transmission does not seem to have been important. Other transmission mechanisms (person to person and polluted vegetables consumption) might present a more significant role in the maintenance of the transmission cycles of those agents in the population.

Resumen Existen pocos estudios disponibles con base en microorganismos enteropatógenos que confirmen el impacto del Río Bravo en la frontera norte sobre la salud pública, aunque algunos datos revelan descargas diarias de millones de litros de aguas residuales, la mayoría sin el más mínimo tratamiento. Las partes bajas del río reciben las aguas negras de áreas urbanas, drenaje agrícola y descargas de la industria, lo que sugiere su alta y peligrosa contaminación con patógenos intestinales. El objetivo fue determinar la calidad microbiológica del agua del Río Bravo, proveniente de drenes y canales que desembocan en ambos lados de la frontera Juárez- El Paso (región denominada Paso del Norte) mediante la detección de organismos indicadores de contaminación fecal, los que permiten inferir la presencia de patógenos intestinales. Se identificaron y cuantificaron los indicadores fecales Cryptosporidium y Giardia por técnicas de separación inmunomagnética e inmunofluorescencia; otros indicadores fueron las bacterias coliformes totales y Escherichia coli, usando la técnica de filtración por membrana. Los resultados mostraron que el 100% de las muestras presentaron los dos parásitos y por lo menos alguno de los indicadores bacterianos, aunque en números fluctuantes, atribuido al tipo de descargas. Con base en que estos indicadores deben ser cero en el agua para beber y utilizando referencias para cuerpos de agua, se pudo deducir la calidad microbiológica, no siendo segura en el 100% de las muestras ni para actividades recreativas ni aptas para riego agrícola. Se observó un número mayor de parásitos y bacterias en las muestras del lado mexicano; asimismo, en ambas fronteras se encontró un número mayor del parásito Giardia que de Cryptosporidium. Actualmente la presencia indiscutible de enteropatógenos en el agua del Río Bravo constituye un riesgo para la salud pública, principalmente para los agricultores que la manejan y en el riego por la contaminación de los productos agrícolas de consumo humano, así como para las personas que entran en contacto con el agua del río. | Abstract There are few available studies based on microbial enteropathogens to confirm the different impacts of microbial contamination of the Rio Grande on the northern border, although some data show daily discharges of millions of gallons of wastewater, most without the slightest treatment. The river’s lower reaches are the final destination of the sewage from cities and towns, agricultural drainage and industrial discharges, suggesting a high and dangerous pollution. Water samples were analyzed, from drains and canals that empty into the Rio Grande, on both sides of the border Juarez-El Paso. The parameters used to determine the microbiological quality of water were Cryptosporidium and Giardia counting, as fecal indicators by immunomagnetic separation and immunofluorescence techniques, as well as of total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli, using the membrane filtration technique. The results showed the presence of both parasites and bacteria in all samples, with different number fluctuations attributed to the type of downloads. We observed a slightly higher number of parasites and bacteria in samples from the Mexican side. Likewise, in both borders is found a slightly greater number of Giardia than Cryptosporidium. Currently, the inevitable presence of enteropathogens in the Rio Grande water constitutes a health risk, especially for farmers who use irrigation and agricultural products for human consumption, as well for peoplethat are in touch with water from the river.

Fil: Zerbatto, Mariel Guadalupe. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas; Argentina. | Se evaluaron los efectos de las modificaciones del pH de coagulación del proceso de potabilización en la remoción de materia orgánica natural, utilizando los coagulantes más comúnmente empleados en esta etapa y si estos cambios tienen algún impacto en la eliminación de quistes de Giardia intestinalis y ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp. Se empleó la prueba de jarras (jar test) para simular los procesos de coagulación, floculación y sedimentación. Para analizar la remoción de materia orgánica natural y estos protozoos fueron seleccionados diferentes coagulantes (sulfato de aluminio, cloruro férrico y polihidroxicloruro de aluminio) y cuatro niveles de pH. Para la coagulación optimizada se ensayaron pH 5,0; 6,5; 8,0 y durante la coagulación convencional no se realizó ninguna modificación del pH. Se realizaron un total de 84 ensayos. Para la identificación y recuento de (oo)quistes de enteroparásitos se empleó el método de inmunofluorescencia con anticuerpos monoclonales. La materia orgánica natural se midió por absorción de UV a 254 nm. La remoción de materia orgánica natural, en la fuente de agua analizada para los tres coagulantes utilizados, fue semejante cuando se utilizó coagulación convencional. Similar conclusión se obtuvo durante coagulación optimizada a pH 5. Para cloruro férrico a pH 5, se halló que la reducción de materia orgánica natural fue superior en un 13,7 %, respecto a la coagulación convencional. Este valor fue mayor que los hallados para ambos coagulantes de aluminio La modificación de pH, no altera la eliminación de quistes de Giardia intestinalis y ooquistes de Cryptosporidium spp. | To evaluate, the effects of changes in pH coagulation treatment process in removing natural matter, using the most commonly used coagulant at this stage. To examine if these changes have an impact on the elimination of Giardia intestinalis cysts and Cryptosporidium spp oocysts. To simulate the process of coagulation, flocculation and sedimentation it was used the jar test. To analyze natural organic matter removal and enteroparasites (Cryptosporidium spp and Giardia intestinalis) 3 different coagulants were selected (aluminum, sulfate, ferric chloride and polyaluminum chloride) and four levels of pH. As regard enhanced coagulation pH 5,0; 6,5; 8,0 were tested and for conventional coagulation no modification of the pH was made. A total of 84 tests were carried out. For the identification and enumeration of (oo)cysts of enteroparasites, the immunoflourescence method with monoclonal antibodies was employed. The natural organic matter removal measurement was performed by UV absorption at 254 nm. The natural organic matter removal, to the water source tested, was similar for conventional coagulation and pH 5, it was verified with the three coagulants used. For ferric chloride at pH 5, it was found that the reduction of natural organic matter was higher by 13.7% compared to conventional coagulation. This value was higher than those found for both aluminum coagulants. The pH modification does not alter the removal of cysts of Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp oocysts. | Universidad Nacional del Litoral

In this study, we analyzed the reports of the health care center located in Vaqueros (Salta, Argentina) over an 8-month period. Moreover, we determined the concentration of Escherichia coli and Giardia spp. cysts in samples from four different drinking water sources. A statistical relationship between water quality and cases of diarrhea could not be found. However, using an odds ratio calculation, it was possible to determine that one of the studied drinking water systems acts as a protection factor in cases of diarrhea. The present work provides useful information for planning preventive measures by the local health system.