title: Occurrence ofBlastocystissp. in water catchments at Malay villages and Aboriginal settlement during wet and dry seasons in Peninsular Malaysia.
abstract: In the tropics, there are too few studies on isolation ofBlastocystissp. subtypes from water sources; in addition, there is also an absence of reported studies on the occurrence ofBlastocystissp. subtypes in water during different seasons. Therefore, this study was aimed to determine the occurrence ofBlastocystissp. subtypes in river water and other water sources that drained aboriginal vicinity of highly endemic intestinal parasitic infections during wet and dry seasons. Water samples were collected from six sampling points of Sungai Krau (K1-K6) and a point at Sungai Lompat (K7) and other water sources around the aboriginal villages. The water samples were collected during both seasons, wet and dry seasons. Filtration of the water samples were carried out using a flatbed membrane filtration system. The extracted DNA from concentrated water sediment was subjected to single round polymerase chain reaction and positive PCR products were subjected to sequencing. All samples were also subjected to filtration and cultured on membrane lactose glucuronide agar for the detection of faecal coliforms. During wet season,Blastocystissp. ST1, ST2 and ST3 were detected in river water samples.Blastocystissp. ST3 occurrence was sustained in the river water samples during dry season. HoweverBlastocystissp. ST1 and ST2 were absent during dry season. Water samples collected from various water sources showed contaminations ofBlastocystissp. ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST4, during wet season andBlastocystissp. ST1, ST3, ST8 and ST10 during dry season. Water collected from all river sampling points during both seasons showed growth ofEscherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes, indicating faecal contamination. In this study,Blastocystissp. ST3 is suggested as the most robust and resistant subtype able to survive in any adverse environmental condition. Restriction and control of human and animal faecal contaminations to the river and other water sources shall prevent the transmission ofBlastocystissp. to humans and animals in this aboriginal community.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Samseh Abdullah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Noradilah
authors.affiliation: Kulliyyah of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kolej Universiti Insaniah , Kuala Ketil , Kedah , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Ii Li
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia; Integrative Pharmacogenomics Institute, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Puncak Alam Campus, Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tengku Shahrul
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Anuar
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre , Cheras , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Fatmah Md
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Salleh
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre , Cheras , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Siti Nor Azreen
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Abdul Manap
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre , Cheras , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Noor Shazleen Husnie
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Mohd Mohtar
authors.affiliation: Multipurpose Laboratory, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre , Cheras , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Syed Muhamad
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Azrul
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia , Pandan Indah , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wan Omar
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology and Medical Entomology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre , Cheras , Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia.
authors.forename: Norhayati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moktar
keywords: Aboriginal settlements; Blastocystis sp.; Water; Wet and dry seasons