Detection of Parasitic Infections and Their Associated Risk Factors in Drinking Water at Basic Schools in Khartoum State-Sudan

Abstract

This cross-sectional study was conducted in basic schools in Khartoum state (Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman) during the period from June to September 2017. The aim of this study was to detect parasitic infections and their associated risk factors in drinking water at basic schools in Khartoum state. One hundred thirty-two water samples were included in this study, 44 samples were collected from each region of Khartoum from different water sources. The study showed that out of 132 samples examined, 56 (42.4%) were positive for parasitic infection. Nine species of intestinal parasites were observed with Entamoeba histolytica being the most predominant as it was found in 21 samples (15.9%). From 56 positive samples, 28 (50 %) contained only one pathogenic parasite, 18 (32.1%) contained more than one pathogens and 10 (17.9 %) samples were nonpathogenic. Omdurman city was the most affected region of Khartoum as it contained 26 (59.1%) contaminated samples (P value= 0.010). The frequency of contamination differed according to different water sources, water from the Zeer had the highest degree of contamination (69.7%) followed by water container (50%) and then the other water sources (P. value= 0.012). Only the Zeer harbored all the nine species of water borne parasites. The presence of traditional toilets at schools and toilets without roofs were associated with more contamination of drinking water (57.9%) (61.5%) (P. value=0.022) (P.value=0.028) respectively. No statistically significant differences between Nile and ground water supplement. The study indicated that the frequency of parasitic infections in drinking water at basic schools in Khartoum state was high (42.4%).