Comparative Study of Three Two-Stage Hybrid Ecological Wastewater Treatment Systems for Producing High Nutrient, Reclaimed Water for Irrigation Reuse in Developing Countries

Abstract

Free-living amoebae pose a potential health risk in water systems as they may be pathogenic and harbor potential pathogenic bacteria known as amoebae resistant bacteria. Free-living amoebae were observed in 150 (87.2%) of the environmental water samples. In particular, Acanthamoeba sp. was identified in 22 (12.8%) using amoebal enrichment and confirmed by molecular analysis. FLA were isolated in all 8 stages of the wastewater treatment plant using the amoebal enrichment technique. A total of 16 (9.3%) samples were positive for FLA from influent, 20 (11.6%) from bioreactor feed, 16 (9.3%) from anaerobic zone, 16 (9.3%) from anoxic zone, 32 (18.6%) from aerators, 16 (9.3%) from bioreactor effluent, 11 (6.4%) from bioreactor final effluent, and 45 (26.2%) from maturation pond. This study provides baseline information on the occurrence of amoebae in wastewater treatment plant. This has health implications on receiving water bodies as some FLA are pathogenic and are also involved in the transmission and dissemination of pathogenic bacteria.

Prevalence of Protozoa Species in Drinking and Environmental Water Sources in Sudan

“…These enteric protozoa are isolated frequently from diarrheal patients in developing regions such as Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa [ 33 ]. However, recently Muchesa et al detected 12.8% Acanthamoeba from 172 wastewater samples [ 34 ]. Our study presents the first report about detection of the following protozoa: A. castellanii, T. gondii, C. owczarzaki, B. hominis, C. muris , and T. vaginitis from zeers found in Gadarif, Juba, and Khartoum.…”