Occurrence of Blastocystis in Water of Two Rivers from Recreational Areas in Malaysia

This study reports the occurrence of Blastocystis in water from two rivers, Sungai Congkak and Sungai Batu, located in recreational areas in Malaysia. This protozoan was detected in samples from both rivers with an average of 33.3% and 22.1%, respectively. It was detected highest at the downstream (...

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Main Authors: Init Ithoi, Azman Jali, J. W. Mak, Wan Yusoff Wan Sulaiman, Rohela Mahmud
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2011-01-01
Series:Journal of Parasitology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/123916
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author Init Ithoi
Azman Jali
J. W. Mak
Wan Yusoff Wan Sulaiman
Rohela Mahmud
author_facet Init Ithoi
Azman Jali
J. W. Mak
Wan Yusoff Wan Sulaiman
Rohela Mahmud
author_sort Init Ithoi
collection DOAJ
description This study reports the occurrence of Blastocystis in water from two rivers, Sungai Congkak and Sungai Batu, located in recreational areas in Malaysia. This protozoan was detected in samples from both rivers with an average of 33.3% and 22.1%, respectively. It was detected highest at the downstream (73.8% and 33.8%) followed by midstream (17.5% and 25.0%) and upstream (8.8% and 7.5%) stations, with additionally higher detection during holidays (with average 47.5% and 30.8%) than week days (with average 19.2% and 13.3%), in both rivers, respectively. There was a strong association with the daily activities of locals and visitors, who came for water recreational activities, mainly located between midstream and downstream and was observed to be higher at Sungai Congkak. The detection of Blastocystis in these rivers' water implies that this protozoan could potentially be transmitted to humans by the waterborne route. Pearson correlation analysis showed that their occurrence was significantly correlated with faecal coliforms count; inconsistent correlation with dissolved oxygen, temperature and turbidity and no correlation with pH, conductivity and rainfall for both rivers. The correlation of coliforms and Blastocystis suggests the source of the Blastocystis in the water body is likely to be faecal.
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publishDate 2011-01-01
publisher Wiley
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series Journal of Parasitology Research
spelling doaj-art-d8bbe65dcf814d43aa68cf5bbc7d2ac42025-08-20T02:21:20ZengWileyJournal of Parasitology Research2090-00232090-00312011-01-01201110.1155/2011/123916123916Occurrence of Blastocystis in Water of Two Rivers from Recreational Areas in MalaysiaInit Ithoi0Azman Jali1J. W. Mak2Wan Yusoff Wan Sulaiman3Rohela Mahmud4Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Putra Malaysia University, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, MalaysiaSchool of Postgraduate Studies and Research, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaDepartment of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaThis study reports the occurrence of Blastocystis in water from two rivers, Sungai Congkak and Sungai Batu, located in recreational areas in Malaysia. This protozoan was detected in samples from both rivers with an average of 33.3% and 22.1%, respectively. It was detected highest at the downstream (73.8% and 33.8%) followed by midstream (17.5% and 25.0%) and upstream (8.8% and 7.5%) stations, with additionally higher detection during holidays (with average 47.5% and 30.8%) than week days (with average 19.2% and 13.3%), in both rivers, respectively. There was a strong association with the daily activities of locals and visitors, who came for water recreational activities, mainly located between midstream and downstream and was observed to be higher at Sungai Congkak. The detection of Blastocystis in these rivers' water implies that this protozoan could potentially be transmitted to humans by the waterborne route. Pearson correlation analysis showed that their occurrence was significantly correlated with faecal coliforms count; inconsistent correlation with dissolved oxygen, temperature and turbidity and no correlation with pH, conductivity and rainfall for both rivers. The correlation of coliforms and Blastocystis suggests the source of the Blastocystis in the water body is likely to be faecal.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/123916
spellingShingle Init Ithoi
Azman Jali
J. W. Mak
Wan Yusoff Wan Sulaiman
Rohela Mahmud
Occurrence of Blastocystis in Water of Two Rivers from Recreational Areas in Malaysia
Journal of Parasitology Research
title Occurrence of Blastocystis in Water of Two Rivers from Recreational Areas in Malaysia
title_full Occurrence of Blastocystis in Water of Two Rivers from Recreational Areas in Malaysia
title_fullStr Occurrence of Blastocystis in Water of Two Rivers from Recreational Areas in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Occurrence of Blastocystis in Water of Two Rivers from Recreational Areas in Malaysia
title_short Occurrence of Blastocystis in Water of Two Rivers from Recreational Areas in Malaysia
title_sort occurrence of blastocystis in water of two rivers from recreational areas in malaysia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/123916
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AT wanyusoffwansulaiman occurrenceofblastocystisinwateroftworiversfromrecreationalareasinmalaysia
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