PATHOGENIC INTESTINAL PARASITES AND BACTERIAL AGENTS IN SOLID WASTES

O.A. ADEYEBA, J.A. AKINBO

Abstract


Objective: To determine the profile of potentially pathogenic enteric parasites and
bacterial agents in municipal refuse dumps in Ibadan, Nigeria.
Design: A cross-sectional survey.
Setting: Five major market places refuse dumps in Ibadan municipality, Nigeria.
Methods: The major market places in Ibadan city were randomly selected by lottery
method. The refuse sludge were sampled and examined parasitologically and
bacteriologically using the methods as described. Data analysis was done by using chisquare
test where applicable.
Results: Cases of multiple intestinal parasites and bacterial agents were commonly
encountered in the sludge refuse samples. The commonly found parasitic agents were
of both human and veterinary importance. These include Ascaris Lumbricoides (9.3 egp),
Entamoeba histolytica (8.07 cyst per gram), Hookworm/strongyle (6.27 egp) and Ascaris
suum (1.07 egp). Others were Ascaris vitolorum (1.09epg), Strongyloides papillosu (0.52
larvae per gram.), Schistosoma suis (0.31 epg) Dicrocoelium dendriticum(0.9egp). The
most commonly found bacterial agents were Klebsiella species, Escherichia Coli, Proteus
species, streptococci, and other gram-positive organisms. Climatic conditions affected the
distribution of both parasites and bacterial agents in the sludge (P<0.001). More
intestinal parasites 2423 (53.4%) and bacterial agents 2150 (27.2%) were encountered
at mean air temperature 26.1±0.6, mean relative humidity of 72±3.5%. The degree of
contamination by market locations varies significantly (P<0.001).
Conclusion: A high degree of contamination of solid waste dumpsites with bacterial and
parasitic agents was observed in the present study. As a result of the public health
importance of the organisms isolated it is opined that well planned waste management
and health education programs will go a long way to reduce the potential epidemic
risks posed by such sites in Ibadan, Nigeria.

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