الفهرس 
AcknowledgementOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Drinking water is a recognized mode of transmission of various bacterial, viral and parasitic infections and high prevalence rates of waterborne infections have been found during past studies in rural areas of the Nile Delta. The greatest danger from drinking water is the possibility of its recent contamination by sewage or human excre ta. In rural areas, water is easily polluted by people defaecating nearby water sources such as.we1ls, ponds and using underground water contaminated with micro-organisms washed out from faeces deposited on the surface of the soil or leaking from primitive pit latrines. Protozoal infections in particular constitute a big group of intestinal parasites infecting man in Egypt. Previous studies have shown that not less than 50 in some of these rural areas constituting a major public health problem. The effucts of parasitic diseases ’are.ref1ected not only on the individual but also on the economy of the whole country. The aim of the present research was to study the role of rural drinking water and human water interaction in transmission of intestinal protozoal infections in a Nile Delta village. A systematic random sample of 50 households was chosen for the study from El-Mohagrin village of Khorshed area (WhiCh is a typical rural area of the Nile Delta.) Water samples (58 samples) were collected from all drinking water sources available to the studied houses and all water storage utensils. Also water samples from the village public taps were taken, over a period of 3 months. The r.hang and Kab1er technique (1956) was used for preparation of water samples.) At the same time stool samples (265 samples) were collected {and preserved us ing MIF preservative and stain and on examination the MIFC technique was used to prepare ahd examine stool samples. A questionnaire was constructed dealing mainly with the availability, storage, disposa1.of drinking water and humanl water interaction concerning frequency, method of filling of zirs, cleaning methods, presence and types of covers and the proximity of zirs to animals and birds. The data was subjected to statistical analysis and interpretation. Results obtained in this study could be summarized as follows: ’-’ --’ -- .. ’--’ ’” 1. All private tap water samples (16 samples) were infected with one or more intes tinal protozoa. The highest protozoal contamination rate was that of Entamoeba histolytica (93.8) followed by Entamoeba coli (68.8) followed by Giardia lamblia (37.5) then by Iodamoeba butschlii (6.3). The possibility of such contamination of private water may be attributed to the unsanitary sewage disposal, most probably from cesspools and sewage leakage into the soil,’which could contaminate tap water through pipe cracks or faulty connections because of absence of municipal supervision over the process of ’extension of water pipes to the houses. 2. All zir water samples (42 samples) were infected with one or more intes tinal protozoa. The highest protozoal contamination rate of zir water was that of Entamoeba histolytica (76.19) followed by Entamoeba coli (64.28) followed by Giardia lamblia (45.24) then by Iodamoeba butschlU (4.76). Such high contamination rates of zir stored water are probably due to lack of sanitation and hygienic knowledge. The unhygienic habits of dipping utensils inside thezir, the untight covers, and the proximity of zir st6,red water to birds and animals are possible causes of water contamination as was proved during data analysis. 3. Water samples from the three village public taps were negative for protozoal infections, indic~~ing the value of municipal constructions relative to the private extensions within the houses which apparently were performed in the absence of technical supervision leading to water contamination at the household outlets. 4. As regards the prevalence rates of human intestinal protozoal infections in the studied area, the most prevalent intestinal protozoal infections was Giardia lamblia (56.2) followed by Entamoeba histolytica (53.96) followed by Entamoeba coli (50.6). Giardia lambUa infection was overwhelmingly high among the young age especially the age groups <5 (97.43), while Entamoeba histolytica infection predominated among age groups 15 and over. Among the studied individuals the illiteracy rate was remarkable (44.53). Entamoeba histolytica infection was particularly high among illiterates (83.05) . Such high rates of intestinal protozoal infections could be attributed to several factors which interact with each other to determine the spread and transmission of infection. Among these factors are sanitary facilities, personal habits, housing conditions, hygienic and socioeconomic standard of the people. The spread of such parasites occurs through the use of contaminated water, food and also by flies, as was proved in previous researches. 5. The pollution of drinking water with Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica cysts had a significant role in raising the ..- .-- -- rates of these parasites among examined individuals in the studied rura 1 area. 6. An actual correlation was found between human rates of protozoal infections and corresponding drinking water contamination rates. from the above results, it can be concluded that there are several defects which facilitate water contamination and so the transmission of intestinal protozoal infections among the studied individuals and these defects include: 1. Defects in sanitary supervision over the process of extension of water pipes to the”houses, thus resulting in probable connection leakages and water contamination. 2. Defects in health education and hygienic knowledge among the rural population due to high illiteracy rate. 3. Defective irregular sewage disposal and environmental sanitation leading to sewage overflow into the soil and high fly dens ity thus facilitate water contamination.