Water dispersion of enteroparasites in a high-altitude agricultural area, in The Ecuadorian Andes

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the species of enteroparasites that are carried by irrigated, piped and stagnant water, as a risk factor associated with transmission in a rural community in the province of Chimborazo-Ecuador. A cross-sectional field investigation was carried out, with an intentional non-probability sampling, in which 214 water samples were included: 37 from irrigation canals, 147 that supply the houses and 30 stagnant. The samples were analyzed by spontaneous sedimentation, Bailenger technique (modified) and Ziehl Neelsen staining (modified). Irrigation and stagnant water obtained 100% of parasitic contamination and to a lesser extent piped, with 57.14%. The highest proportion was of protozoa (70.56%), followed by chromists (40.65%) and helminths (13.08%). Among the transmissible parasites, the following stand out: Blastocystis spp. (40.65%), Free-living amoebas (5.61%), Entamoeba spp. (8.41%), Giardia duodenalis (6.54%), Balantidium spp. (13.51%), Cryptosporidium spp. (17.76%), Cyclospora spp. (3.74%), Cystoisospora spp. (2.34%), Eimeria spp. (13.55%), Dibothriocephalus spp. (0.47%) and nematode larvae (13.08%). The results show the presence of parasites of water transmission in the three bodies of water studied, which constitutes a risk of human, veterinary infection and contamination for agricultural products.

Keywords

• agua
• contaminación
• parásitos
• vehículo
• transmisión