Diversity of Fungi in the Public Hand-pump Borehole Water in Onueke, Ezza Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The diversity of fungi in fifteen public hand-pump borehole water in Onueke, Ezza Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria was studied during the dry and wet seasons using standard analytical procedures. The total moulds and yeasts counts were 2-8cfu/ml and 1-5cfu/ml respectively during the dry season and 3-12cfu/ml and 1-4cfu/ml respectively during the wet season. More moulds were isolated from the samples during the wet than the dry season while more yeasts were isolated during the dry than the wet season. The fungi were characterized and identified on the basis of their colonial, microscopic, biochemical and molecular characteristics as Candida albicans, Microsporum canis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Geotrichum candidum, Basidiobolus ranarum, Microsporum audouinii, Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Trichosporon cutaneum. More of the boreholes contained Candida albicans than the other isolates during both seasons. Candida albicans occurred most frequently in the water samples during both seasons while Fonsecaea pedrosoi had the lowest frequency of occurrence in the water samples during both seasons. All the isolates were resistant to Griseofulvin while they exhibited varying degree of resistance and sensitivity to the other antifungal agents used. This study indicated that the borehole water samples examined did not comply with the standard established by regulatory bodies for potable water and therefore must be adequately treated before drinking and use for domestic purposes as these fungi have been reported to cause diseases of humans and animals. Boiling, chlorination, sand filtration and exposure to ultraviolet radiation are recommended.

Effect of Seasonal Variation on the Physicochemical Characteristics of Borehole Water in Ogbaru Communities, Anambra State, Nigeria

“…The calcium hardness values were 0.6-3.4mg/l during the dry season and 1.8-10.4mg/l during the wet season (Tables 3 and 4). All the values were within the WHO standard of 75mg/l for drinking water.Similar results were obtained by Onuorah et al [7] who studied the physicochemical characteristics of public hand-pump boreholes in Onueke, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.…”

“…The values for the total suspended solids were 0.00-0.25mg/l during the dry season and 0.03-2.01mg/l during the wet season (Tables 1 and 2). The values for both seasons were within the WHO permissible limit of 30mg/l for drinking water .Onuorah et al [7] reported the total suspended solids values of 0.01-0.84mg/l and 0.01-0.48mg/l during the dry and wet seasons respectively for the borehole water samples they analysed. Onwughara et al [20] however reported that the total suspended solids of the samples they analysed ranged from 31.3-55.0mg/l.…”

“…Studies on ground water in Wassa West District in the Western Region of Ghana by Kortasi [9] showed a pH range of 4.5-6.9. However, Onuorah et al [7] analysed some public hand-pump borehole water in Onueke, Ezza Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria and reported a pH range of 7.2-8.8 and 7.5-9.0 during the dry and rainy seasons respectively while Basavaraja et al [10] and Abdullahi et al [11] reported pH values ranging from 7.5-8.4 and 7.51-7.60 for the borehole water samples they analysed. Schaefer et al [12] reported that low pH values would make water to be corrosive while Amoako et al [13] reported that the geology of the soil could account for low pH values of borehole water in an area.…”

“…The physical characteristics of the borehole water samples were determined as described by Onuorah et al [7].…”