Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected tropical disease of public health value vectored by sand-fly in tropical and vegetative regions of the world. This study was carried out between March and September, 2019 to determine species composition of Sand fly and occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State. Light and paper oil trap were used to trap 204 Sandflies from 3 villages and identified with standard entomological technique based on morphological characteristics. Assessment of the skin for cutaneous leishmaniasis manifestation was carried out on available respondents above 15 years. Blood samples were collected from 42 head of households and emptied into EDTA containers. Laboratory analysis of blood samples was carried out using standard method of staining and microscopy. Result was represented in percentages and subjected to chi-square analysis. The result revealed two sand-fly genera; Phlebotomus (135) and Lutzomyia (69) with abundant rates of 66.17% and 33.82% respectively. The different species were present in the villages sampled and female flies accounted for 45.59% of the collection. There was no typical CL skin manifestation observed among villagers, however, laboratory analysis of the household respondents showed 3(7.14) persons had amastigote form of leis hymenia in their blood. The study reveals occurrence of cutaneous leishmaniasis and its possible vectors in the study area. There is need for public health awareness, health education and application of effective control measures for sand-fly in this area

This study aimed at comparing the parasitological status of water used by some restaurants in Owerri metropolis, Imo State from May, 2019 to February, 2020. Seventy one water samples collected across the vending types (high level and low level restaurants) were evaluated for parasite contamination using standard methods. Data obtained was statistically analyzed with p-value set at 0.05 significance level. The result showed that 14.70% (5) of the samples from high-level restaurants were contaminated. Eleven (29.73%) of the 37 samples from low-level restaurants were contaminated with parasites. Statistical analysis showed the prevalence of contaminated water samples from the 2 vending types was significantly different (p˂ 0.05). The result revealed that 11 (36.36%) of the 30 sampling sites used contaminated water with high-level restaurants recording the lower prevalence. The selected sites showed no significant difference in the occurrence of contaminated water (p˃ 0.05). Three parasites were isolated from 18 (25.35%) of 71 water samples from the two vending types. The parasites identified were Cryptosporidium oocyst with an occurrence rate of 8.85% (6), Giardia spp.,8 (11.25%), and Entamoeba spp., 5(5.64%). Statistical analysis showed that the species-specific prevalence was not statistically significant (p˃0.05). The overall concentration of parasites in the study was 2.00 oocyst/cyst in 100ml of water. Furthermore, low-level restaurants recorded non-significant higher parasite prevalence of 32.86% with a concentration of 1.8 oocyst/cyst per 100ml of water, as against 31.00% with a concentration of 2.4 oocyst/cyst per 100ml of water observed in high-level restaurants (p˃ 0.05). The findings therefore suggest that parasitic organisms are maintained by a viable ecosystem which thrive in the restaurants and exposes customers to a cycle of endless parasitism. There is need for government and restaurant management to provide safe water supply while maintaining and enforcing sound hygiene and safety measures.

Assessment of faecal contamination of water is a key factor in assessing the quality and safety of food. It also reveals the level of hygiene adopted by food handlers in the course of preparation and serving of such foods. This study assessed the risk of microbial contamination of water used by food vendors in Owerri munipality, Imo State Nigeria between January-December 2019 with an emphasis on total coliforms and the faecal coliforms/ faecal indicator bacteria (FIB) – Escherichia coli (E. coli) and thermotolerant coliforms (TTC). One hundred and thirty water samples collected across three vending types (street vendors, high level and low level restaurants) were evaluated for microbial contamination using standard methods. Data obtained was statistically analyzed with p-value set at 0.05 significance level. The result identified Enterobacter spp. and Klebsiella spp. The result showed that 48.46% (63) of the 130 water samples examined were contaminated with coliform bacteria, of which 20 (22.22%) samples had faecal coliform bacteria, representing 10.77% of the entire water samples examined. Of the 64 samples from water used for food preparation, 12.50% (8) had faecal coliform bacteria as against 9.09% (6) of 66 samples collected from water offered to customers for drinking. The result showed that 116 (89.23%) of the 130 water samples recorded no faecal coliform contamination, hence they were considered excellent based on the guidelines for determination of faecal contamination of water. Two samples had faecal coliform counts of 1-3 per 100 ml of water accounting for 1.54% of water samples, which is considered Satisfactory. The result revealed suspicious (4-9 per 100 ml) coliform count in 9 (6.92%) water samples, while three water samples (2.31%) had ≥10 count and are classified as unsatisfactory. The result revealed that 89.23% (116) of the examined water samples were of ‘no risk’ to the public, which was significantly higher than 8.46% (11) and 2.31% (3) recognized as being of low and intermediate risk respectively (p <0.05). High and very high risk water samples were not encountered in the study. This trend in qualification of risk of water samples reflected in the two types of water usages, and the observed differences was however not statistically significant (p>0.05).