title: Raw wastewater agricultural re-use and risk of protozoal infection in Beni-Mellal, Morocco.
abstract: This study was carried out to determine the potential risk of protozoal infection associated with raw wastewater use for agricultural purposes, among children of Beni-Mellal, Morocco. In a randomly-selected sample of 1343 children 740 from 5 regions which use raw wastewater for agriculture (exposed), while 603 were from 4 control regions that do not practice wastewater irrigation (unexposed). A questionnaire-interview with children and parents was used to collect data on demographic, hygienic, and risky water contact risk factors One or more protozoal infection was identified among 276(37.2%) of children living in the wastewater re-use regions, versus only among 22 (3.6%) living in control regions. The overall prevalence of 40.1% was observed among boys, and 33.3% among girls residing in exposed areas. The two identified protozoa were Entaemoeba histolytica and Giardia intestinalis, which infected 34.3% and 5.1% in the exposed population compared to only 3.3% and 0.3% in the control population, respectively. We also noted that the G. intestinalis prevalence was more than 40% among the children under 9 years, but less than 17% for those who were more than 12 years. Also, a significant excess of protozoal infection was observed among children who had risky contact with agricultural lands (p<0.001). In conclusion, raw wastewater use in Beni-Mellal can lead to a high risk of protozoal infections. Adequate treatment of wastewater prior to re-use, as well as public health education are highly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Biology & Agronomics, Faculty of Science & Technology, Beni-Mellal, Morocco.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Habbari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tifnouti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bitton
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mandil
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000383:Agriculture; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D003889:Desert Climate; D004404:Dysentery, Amebic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D018508:Water Purification