Risk of Giardia infection for drinking water and bathing in a peri-urban area in São Paulo, Brazil

• Published in: International journal of environmental health research 2011-06, Vol.21 (3), p.222-234
• Main Authors: Razzolini, Maria Tereza Pepe, Weir, Mark H., Matte, Maria Helena, Matte, Glavur Rogerio, Fernandes, Licia Natal, Rose, Joan B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Baths; Brazil - epidemiology; Contamination; Cysts; Drinking; Drinking water; EPA; Giardia; Giardia - immunology; Giardia - isolation & purification; Giardiasis - epidemiology; Giardiasis - immunology; Giardiasis - microbiology; Ground water; Groundwater; Humans; Infection; Microbial contamination; Monte Carlo simulation; Parasitic protozoa; Pathogens; peri-urban area; Risk assessment; Risk Assessment - methods; Risk factors; Rural Population; shallow wells; Suburban Population; Time Factors; Urban areas; Water Microbiology; Water sampling; Water supplies; Water Supply - analysis; Water wells; Water-borne diseases
• ISSN: 0960-3123; 1369-1619
• DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2010.533367

A high incidence of waterborne diseases is observed worldwide and in order to address contamination problems prior to an outbreak, quantitative microbial risk assessment is a useful tool for estimating the risk of infection. The objective of this paper was to assess the probability of Giardia infection from consuming water from shallow wells in a peri-urban area. Giardia has been described as an important waterborne pathogen and reported in several water sources, including ground waters. Sixteen water samples were collected and examined according to the US EPA (1623, 2005 ). A Monte Carlo method was used to address the potential risk as described by the exponential dose response model. Giardia cysts occurred in 62.5% of the samples (