Parasitological Assessment of Well and River Water in North Bank Area of Makurdi Benue State, Nigeria

Abstract

Contaminated water is an important vehicle for the transmission of intestinal parasites and may pose a considerable public health risk where untreated well and surface water are used for domestic purposes. This study assessed the parasitological contamination of well and river water in the North Bank area of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. A total of 200 water samples comprising 120 well-water and 80 river-water samples were examined for parasitic contamination. Samples were assessed for the presence of parasitic protozoa and helminth eggs, and contamination was determined according to water source and sampling location. The occurrence of single and multiple parasitic contamination was also assessed. The association between water source and parasitic contamination was evaluated using the chi-square test at a significance level of p < 0.05. Of the 200 water samples examined, 58 (29.0%) were positive for parasitic contamination, while 142 (71.0%) were negative. River water recorded a higher contamination rate of 35.0% (28/80) compared with 25.0% (30/120) for well water. The parasites identified included Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (8.5%), Giardia duodenalis (6.5%), Ascaris lumbricoides eggs (5.0%), hookworm/strongyle-type eggs (4.0%), Trichuris trichiura eggs (2.5%), and Entamoeba coli (2.5%). Among well-water sampling locations, contamination ranged from 20.0% to 30.0%, whereas river-water contamination ranged from 25.0% to 40.0%. Single-parasite contamination predominated, accounting for 82.8% of positive samples, while 17.2% contained two parasites. Although river water showed a higher proportion of contamination than well water, the association between water source and parasitic contamination was not statistically significant (χ² = 2.40, p = 0.121). The detection of parasitic protozoa and helminth eggs in both well and river water indicates potential exposure to waterborne parasitic infections among users in the North Bank area of Makurdi. Although river water had a higher contamination rate, parasitic contamination was present in both water sources. Regular parasitological monitoring, improved sanitation, protection of water sources from contamination, and appropriate treatment of water before domestic use are recommended.

Keywords: Parasitic contamination, well water, river water, intestinal parasites, water quality