title: Waterborne parasites and physico-chemical assessment of selected lakes in Malaysia.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the physico-chemical parameters and waterborne parasites in selected recreational lakes from Malaysia. Samples were collected from seven stations of Recreational Lake A (RL-A) and six stations of Recreational Lake B (RL-B). The samples were processed to detect the presence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. using immunomagnetic separation kit, helminth eggs or ova by bright field microscopy and Acanthamoeba spp. by cultivation in non-nutrient agar. Chemical parameters such as ammonia, chlorine, fluoride, nitrate and nitrite and physical parameters such as dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, salinity, temperature and total dissolved solid were also measured. Both lakes were freshwater with salinity ranging from 0.05 to 0.09 ppt. Most stations of these lakes were contaminated with Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Ascaris spp. and hookworm. Schistosoma spp. was found in RL-B only, while Acanthamoeba spp. was found in all stations. Of all sampling sites, station 5 of RL-B is the most contaminated. Linear regression and correlation analysis revealed that Giardia spp. and Schistosoma spp. showed a significant negative correlation with turbidity (p < 0.01). Based on the preliminary data obtained, it is clearly shown that there is a necessity to implement the detection of waterborne parasites and physico-chemical analysis in Malaysia. Future work on heavy metals (chromium, copper, mercury and zinc) is recommended to enhance the overall water quality monitoring and to take appropriate safety measures to ensure maintenance of good water standards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology (Southeast Asia Water Team), Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, subashinionichandran@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Subashini
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onichandran
authors.forename: Thulasi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Yvonne A L
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Nongyao
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sawangjaroen
authors.forename: Hemah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Andiappan
authors.forename: Cristina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Salibay
authors.forename: Tan Tian
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Chye
authors.forename: Init
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ithoi
authors.forename: Julieta Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Dungca
authors.forename: Wan Y W
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.forename: Lau Yee
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.forename: Veeranoot
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nissapatorn
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000818:Animals; D001200:Ascaris / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000469:parasitology*; D005872:Giardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D060106:Lakes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000469:parasitology*; D008296:Malaysia; D010271:Parasites / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060753:Water Quality
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