Common parasites in domestic water sources in students’ hostels at Ishieke, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2025
Okoh, F. N. | Odikamnoro, O. O. | Uwa, B. N. | Uhuo, C. A. | Eze, G. C. | Ikeh, I. M.
The provision of clean and safe water is crucial for public health, particularly in densely populated areas like student hostels. This study was to determine the common parasites in domestic water sources used by students in hostels at Ishieke, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Thirty water samples each were collected from four domestic water sources (hand dug well, pond, borehole and harvested rainwater) in clean sterile well labelled sample bottles. Samples were analysed in Department of Applied Biology Laboratory, Ebonyi State University, for the presence of parasites, using Calcium Carbonate Flocculation method, Lugol’s iodine stain, Ziehl-Nelson technique and centrifugation. The results showed that all the water sources haboured different parasites, totaling 76 in number, including cysts forms of Giardia lamblia 32(42.1%), Entamoeba histolytica 22 (28.9%), Balantidium coli 16(21.0%) and oocysts of Cryptosporidium parvum 6 (7.9%). Parasites were more prevalent in hand dug well-water samples (29) than other water sources, and they were least (9) in harvested rainwater samples. The total percentage prevalence of Giardia lamblia was highest (42.1%) and oocyst of Cryptosporidium parvum was the least (7.9%). Preventing water borne contamination through provision of safe and portable drinking water is vital to the students’ health.
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