A Perspective on the Global Pandemic of Waterborne Disease

Ford, Tim; Hamner, Steve

doi:10.1007/s00248-015-0629-0

Cited by 15 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…While the term has gained increased traction in recent years as a means to encourage community empowerment, facilitate capacity building, enable exchange between community members and scientists, and link research directly to policy action, recent review has suggested it also has the potential to substantially improve the rigor, relevance and reach of science (Balazs and Morello-Frosch 2013). Rigorous methodologies applicable to source drinking water monitoring and improvement of quality have yet to be delineated (Ford and Hamner 2015). The human health problems related to the deteriorating surface water quality faced by the communities at Lake Atitlán present a challenging situation in which to critically employ and improve these approaches to benefit lakeside communities and scientific engagement, particularly given the persistent challenges faced by implementation of POU interventions within communities.…”

Section: Community-based Participatory Research (Cbpr)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Employing CBPR to investigate function, utility, and longevity of household filters to improve potable water quality for indigenous peoples at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala: a pilot study with San Pedro de La Laguna

Roegner

Ochaeta

Bocel

et al. 2016

Energ. Ecol. Environ.

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Cyanobacterial blooms at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala threaten and compromise the livelihood and health of local residents. Indigenous Tz'utujil, Kaqchikel, and K'iche' rely directly on lake water for drinking, bathing, cleaning, cooking, and fishing. Nonpoint source runoff and untreated wastewater pumped directly into the lake contribute to high fecal pathogen loads into source waters. Concurrent nutrient loading results in cyanobacterial blooms further compromising water quality. A lakeside municipality facing high rates of childhood gastrointestinal illness volunteered to engage in community-based participatory research (CBPR) to evaluate efficacy, utility, and longevity of filters in households. The filters consistently reduced the risk of coliforms and E. coli in household water drawn from the lake based on World Health Organization guidelines. Household surveys were simultaneously administered through a student leadership group regarding water usage, water quality, and community health. Filters demonstrated ability to reduce high loads of fecal indicators from source waters and ability to remove a cyanobacterial toxin (microcystin) at 10 lg/L in deionized water. Further studies are imperative to determine longevity of use in households and CBPR provides a powerful avenue to test efficacy of a possible intervention while engaging stakeholders and empowering community members with sustainable solutions.

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Section: Community-based Participatory Research (Cbpr)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Employing CBPR to investigate function, utility, and longevity of household filters to improve potable water quality for indigenous peoples at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala: a pilot study with San Pedro de La Laguna

Roegner

Ochaeta

Bocel

et al. 2016

Energ. Ecol. Environ.

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“…The impact of waterborne diseases and sanitation-related infections on mortality and global burden continue to be a major public health issue, especially on the poorest communities (low-income countries) and on vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and children under 5 years old [ 19 ]. In the European Union (EU), the burden of disease is often underestimated, mainly due to the reduced duration of the illness, as not all ill people seek for medical care, and errors in the diagnosis and notification of the cases [ 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Waterborne Gastroenteritis Outbreak Caused by a GII Norovirus in a Holiday Camp in Catalonia (Spain), 2017

Carol

Guadalupe-Fernández

Rius

et al. 2021

Viruses

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On 2 February 2017, Epidemiological Surveillance Services were notified of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) among schoolchildren who had taken part of a school trip from 30 January to 3 February 2017 at a holiday camp in Catalonia. A retrospective cohort study was performed to identify the causative agent, estimate the magnitude of the outbreak and identify its source, as well as to determine the route of transmission. Data collected by standardised questionnaires identified 41 episodes of AGE among 174 individuals who attended the camp. Cases had mainly symptoms of abdominal pain (73.8%), nausea (64.3%), vomiting (54.8%), diarrhoea (45.2%) and headache (42.9%). Consumption of water was associated with gastroenteritis (crude RR: 1.72, 95%CI: 1.01–2.92; adjusted RR: 1.88, 95%CI 1.03–3.56). NoV GII was detected in faeces (5 out of 13) and water samples. Additionally, faecal indicator bacteria and protozoa were detected in water samples. The outbreak showed a high attack rate and was caused by a natural water fountain not properly treated and not monitored for safety quality. There could have been a discharge of wastewater at a point close to the fountain; however, the source of contamination of the water could not be identified. Health education may be useful to eliminate risks associated with the consumption of untreated water from natural fountains.

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“…Water is essential for human life and productivity, yet both water quality and security are increasingly under threat globally [1,2,3]. Unfortunately, while wealthy countries are able to afford effective water treatment, poorer nations are severely hampered by a lack of resources for safe water to protect public health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metagenomic Profiling of Microbial Pathogens in the Little Bighorn River, Montana

Hamner

Brown

Hasan

et al. 2019

IJERPH

Self Cite

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The Little Bighorn River is the primary source of water for water treatment plants serving the local Crow Agency population, and has special significance in the spiritual and ceremonial life of the Crow tribe. Unfortunately, the watershed suffers from impaired water quality, with high counts of fecal coliform bacteria routinely measured during run-off events. A metagenomic analysis was carried out to identify potential pathogens in the river water. The Oxford Nanopore MinION platform was used to sequence DNA in near real time to identify both uncultured and a coliform-enriched culture of microbes collected from a popular summer swimming area of the Little Bighorn River. Sequences were analyzed using CosmosID bioinformatics and, in agreement with previous studies, enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and other E. coli pathotypes were identified. Noteworthy was detection and identification of enteroaggregative E. coli O104:H4 and Vibrio cholerae serotype O1 El Tor, however, cholera toxin genes were not identified. Other pathogenic microbes, as well as virulence genes and antimicrobial resistance markers, were also identified and characterized by metagenomic analyses. It is concluded that metagenomics provides a useful and potentially routine tool for identifying in an in-depth manner microbial contamination of waterways and, thereby, protecting public health.

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A Perspective on the Global Pandemic of Waterborne Disease

Cited by 15 publications

References 45 publications

Employing CBPR to investigate function, utility, and longevity of household filters to improve potable water quality for indigenous peoples at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala: a pilot study with San Pedro de La Laguna

Employing CBPR to investigate function, utility, and longevity of household filters to improve potable water quality for indigenous peoples at Lake Atitlán, Guatemala: a pilot study with San Pedro de La Laguna

A Waterborne Gastroenteritis Outbreak Caused by a GII Norovirus in a Holiday Camp in Catalonia (Spain), 2017

Metagenomic Profiling of Microbial Pathogens in the Little Bighorn River, Montana

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