Waterborne diseases are caused by pathogenic microorganisms which are directly transmitted when contaminated drinking water is consumed. Contaminated drinking water used in the preparation of food can be the source of foodborne disease through consumption of the same microorganisms. According to the World Health Organization, diarrheal disease accounts for an estimated 4.1% of the total DALY global burden of disease and is responsible for the deaths of 1.8 million people every year. It was estimated that 88% of that burden is attributable to unsafe water supply, sanitation and hygiene and is mostly concentrated on children in developing countries.[1]
Waterborne disease can be caused by protozoa, viruses, bacteria, and intestinal parasites.
Disease and Transmission | Microbial Agent | Sources of Agent in Water Supply | General Symptoms |
---|---|---|---|
Amebiasis (hand-to-mouth) | Protozoan (Entamoeba histolytic) (Cyst-like appearance) | Sewage, non-treated drinking water, flies in water supply | Abdominal discomfort, fatigue, weight loss, diarrhea, gas pains Fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea |
Cryptosporidiosis (oral) | Protozoan (Cryptosporidium parvum) | Collects on water filters and membranes that cannot be disinfected, animal manure, seasonal runoff of water. | Flu-like symptoms, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, substantial loss of weight, bloating, increased gas, stomach |
Cyclosporiasis | Protozoan parasite (Cyclospora cayetanensis) | Sewage, non-treated drinking water | cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, low-grade fever, and fatigue |
Giardiasis (oral-fecal) (hand-to-mouth) | Protozoan (Giardia lamblia) Most common intestinal parasite | Untreated water, poor disinfection, pipe breaks, leaks, groundwater contamination, campgrounds where humans and wildlife use same source of water. Beavers and muskrats act as a reservoir for Giardia. | Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas and gas pains |
Microsporidia | Protozoan (Microsporidiosis), but closely related to fungi | The genera of Encephalitozoon intestinalis has been detected in groundwater, swimming pool via AIDS patients and the origin of drinking water [2] |
Disease and Transmission | Microbial Agent | Sources of Agent in Water Supply | General Symptoms |
---|---|---|---|
Schistosomiasis (immersion) | Schistosoma | Contaminated fresh water with certain types of snails that carry schistosomes | Rash or itchy skin. Fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches |
dracunculiasis | dracanculus medinensis | drinking water containing infective cyclops | allergic reaction,urticarial rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, asthmatic attack. |
taeniasis solium | taenia solium | contaminate drinking water with eggs | intestinal disturbances, neurologic manifestations, loss of weight, cysticercosis |
fasciolosis | fasciola | contaminated drinking water with encysted metacercaria | GIT disturbance, diarrhea, liver enlargement, cholangitis, cholecystitis, obstructive jaundice. |
hymenolepiasis nana | hymenolepis nana | contaminated drinking water with eggs | mild GIT symptoms, nervous manifestation |
hyatidosis | echinococcus granulosus | contaminated drinking water with eggs | hyatid cyst press on bile ductand blood vessels, if it ruptured cause anaphylactic shock. |
coenurosis | multiceps multiceps | contaminated drinking water with eggs | inreases intacranial tension |
ascraiasis | ascaris lumbricoides | contaminated drinking water with eggs | Loefflers syndrome in lung, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malnutrition, underdevelopment, |
enterobiasis | entrobius vermicularis | contaminated drinking water with eggs | peri-anal itch, nervous irritability, hyperactivity and insomnia |
Disease | Morbidity (cases per year) |
Mortality (deaths per year) |
---|---|---|
1,500,000,000 | 100,000 | |
Schistosomiasis | 200,000,000 | 200,000 |
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