Next Article in Journal
Experimental Approach for Bacteriophage Susceptibility Testing of Planktonic and Sessile Bacterial Populations—Study Protocol
Previous Article in Journal
Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Research—A Priority of the Romanian Postgraduate Education System
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
GERMS
Volume 4
Issue 4
10.11599/germs.2014.1061
germs-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
GERMS is published by MDPI from Volume 25 Issue 4 (2025). Previous articles were published by another publisher in Open Access under a CC-BY (or CC-BY-NC-ND) licence, and they are hosted by MDPI on mdpi.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with the former publisher Infection Science Forum S.R.L..
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Human Parasitic Protozoa in Drinking Water Sources in Rural Zimbabwe and Their Link to HIV Infection

by
Sekesai Mtapuri-Zinyowera
1,
Vurayai Ruhanya
2,
Nicholas Midzi
2,
Chipo Berejena
2,
Nyasha Chin’ombe
2,
Pasipanodya Nziramasanga
2,
George Nyandoro
3,* and
Takafira Mduluza
4
1
National Microbiology Reference Laboratory, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe
2
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Zimbabwe, Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe
3
Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
4
Department of Biochemistry, University of Zimbabwe, Mt Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
GERMS 2014, 4(4), 86-91; https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2014.1061
Submission received: 16 August 2014 / Revised: 29 October 2014 / Accepted: 11 November 2014 / Published: 1 December 2014
Versions Notes

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to perform a risk assessment in a rural setting, where drinking water is obtained from both protected and unprotected deep or shallow wells, boreholes and springs. Water is consumed untreated and this poses a risk of acquiring waterborne infections that may cause diarrhea. Methods: The study included 113 study participants who volunteered in Chiweshe rural community (Musarara village) in Mashonaland Central Province in Zimbabwe. There were 34 (30%) males and 79 (70%) females with ages ranging from 2 to 89 years. HIV counseling was carried out at the communal meeting and testing was done at home visits. Stool and drinking water samples were collected from 104 subjects. Routine laboratory methods were used to examine for parasitic infections. Results: Only 29 (25.7%) of participants were confirmed HIV positive using 2 rapid serology tests; eighty-four (74.3%) were negative. Diarrheic stool samples were observed in 17 (16.3%) participants and of these 5 (29.4%) were HIV seropositive. Several parasites were isolated from stool samples: G. duodenalis 6 (5.7%), E. histolytica/dispar 19 (18.2%), C. parvum, 8 (7.6%) and C. cayetanensis 23 (22.1%). Eleven out of 30 (36.6%) water bodies had protozoan parasites: G. duodenalis 2 (6.6%), E. histolytica 4 (13.3%), C. parvum 1 (3.3%), C. cayetanensis 3 (10%), E. coli 1 (3.3%). Conclusion: The water sources were being used without treatment and were shown to pose a risk for acquiring diarrheagenic protozoan parasites.
Keywords: diarrhea; parasitic protozoa; drinking water; HIV/AIDS diarrhea; parasitic protozoa; drinking water; HIV/AIDS

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Mtapuri-Zinyowera, S.; Ruhanya, V.; Midzi, N.; Berejena, C.; Chin’ombe, N.; Nziramasanga, P.; Nyandoro, G.; Mduluza, T. Human Parasitic Protozoa in Drinking Water Sources in Rural Zimbabwe and Their Link to HIV Infection. GERMS 2014, 4, 86-91. https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2014.1061

AMA Style

Mtapuri-Zinyowera S, Ruhanya V, Midzi N, Berejena C, Chin’ombe N, Nziramasanga P, Nyandoro G, Mduluza T. Human Parasitic Protozoa in Drinking Water Sources in Rural Zimbabwe and Their Link to HIV Infection. GERMS. 2014; 4(4):86-91. https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2014.1061

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mtapuri-Zinyowera, Sekesai, Vurayai Ruhanya, Nicholas Midzi, Chipo Berejena, Nyasha Chin’ombe, Pasipanodya Nziramasanga, George Nyandoro, and Takafira Mduluza. 2014. "Human Parasitic Protozoa in Drinking Water Sources in Rural Zimbabwe and Their Link to HIV Infection" GERMS 4, no. 4: 86-91. https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2014.1061

APA Style

Mtapuri-Zinyowera, S., Ruhanya, V., Midzi, N., Berejena, C., Chin’ombe, N., Nziramasanga, P., Nyandoro, G., & Mduluza, T. (2014). Human Parasitic Protozoa in Drinking Water Sources in Rural Zimbabwe and Their Link to HIV Infection. GERMS, 4(4), 86-91. https://doi.org/10.11599/germs.2014.1061

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop