Parasitic Contamination of Urban Surface Waters in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso: Implications for Public Health

Abstract

Aims: Urbanization in African cities has led to significant public health challenges, largely attributable to inadequate sanitation infrastructure. Poor surface water quality is the source of the spread of communicable diseases. This study aimed to examine parasite contamination in surface waters in the city of Ouagadougou. Study Design: A parasitological study was conducted on six water bodies in the city of Ouagadougou, from May 2023 to June 2024. Methodology: Water samples were collected during the rainy and dry seasons. A multiparameter device was used to measure the pH, temperature, electric conductivity, and total dissolved solids (TDS) of water on site. Samples were subjected to microscopic examination after the modified Bailenger method and the modified Ziehl–Neelsen technique. The prevalence of parasites was compared by site and season using a chi-squared test. The effect of physicochemical parameters on parasite occurrence was assessed by Spearman’s correlation test. Results: Microscopic analysis of the 84 samples collected revealed nine species of parasite. The most prevalent were Giardia duodenalis (55.9 %), Cryptosporidium spp (50 %), and Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar (23.8%). The hot period of the dry season recorded the highest prevalence of G. duodenalis (p=.035), E. histolytica/E. dispar (p<.001), A. lumbricoides (p=.027), S. haematobium (p=.0003), F. hepatica (p=.0003), and T. intestinalis (p=.020). The prevalence of E. histolytica/E. dispar was positively correlated with water temperature (r=0.26), conductivity (r=0.34), and TDS (r=0.28). Conclusion: Our study found a substantial level of parasitic contamination in the surface waters in the city of Ouagadougou. The presence of parasites in the environment (water) poses a significant public health risk in developing countries facing rapid urbanization.