Contamination of Groundwater Sources with Common Waterborne Pathogens and Heficobacter pylori in the West Bank： Case Study of Wadi AI Arroub, Tulkarem and Jericho

Detection of waterborne pathogens in drinking water via rapid DNA amplification assays is an important and crucial public health method. The aim of this study is to investigate the presence of waterborne pathogens in groundwater resources in Al Arroub, Tulkarem and Jericho areas using direct PCR （polymerase chain reaction） analysis. Forty-six groundwater samples were collected. The total DNA was extracted from each sample and subjected to PCR analysis directed to specific genes of enteric bacteria, β-lactamases producing bacteria, L. pneumophila （Legionella pneumophila） and H. pylori （Helicobacter pylori）. Enteric bacteria were detected with high frequency in Palestinian water sources followed by 13% occurrence of β-lactamases producing bacteria, 9% of H. pylori and 4% of L. pneumophila. The study shows that shallow groundwater wells and water taped from karstic aquifer is potential for contamination and could not be reliable sources of potable water.

Stationary distribution and probability density function of a stochastic waterborne pathogen model with logistic growth

Waterborne disease threatens public health globally.Previous studies mainly consider that the birth of pathogens in water sources arises solely by the shedding of infected individuals,However,for free-living pathogens,intrinsic growth without the presence of hosts in environment could be possible.In this paper,a stochastic waterborne disease model with a logistic growth of pathogens is investigated.We obtain the sufficient conditions for the extinction of disease and also the existence and uniqueness of an ergodic stationary distribution if the threshold R_(0)^(s)>1.By solving the Fokker-Planck equation,an exact expression of probability density function near the quasi-endemic equilibrium is obtained.Results suggest that the intrinsic growth in bacteria population induces a large reproduction number to determine the disease dynamics.Finally,theoretical results are validated by numerical examples.

Occurrence and infection risk of waterborne pathogens in Wanzhou watershed of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

The Three Gorges Reservoir （TGR）, formed by China＇s Yangtze Three Gorges Project, is the largest lake in the world, but there is too little information available about fecal contamination and waterborne pathogen impacts on this aquatic ecosystem. During two successive 1-year study periods （July 2009 to July 2011）, the water quality in Wanzhou watershed of the TGR was tested with regard to the presence of fecal indicators and pathogens. According to Chinese and World Health Organization water quality standards, water quality in the mainstream was good but poor in backwater areas. Salmonella, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli （EHEC）, Giardia and Cryptosporidium were detected in the watershed. Prevalence and concentrations of the pathogens in the mainstream were lower than those in backwater areas. The estimated risk of infection with Salmonella, EHEC, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia per exposure event ranged from 2.9 × 10 -7 to 1.68 × 10-5 , 7.04 × 10-10 to 2.36 × 10-7 , 5.39 × 10-6 to 1.25 × 10-4 and 0 to 1.2 × 10-3 , respectively, for occupational divers and recreational swimmers exposed to the waters. The estimated risk of infection at exposure to the 95% upper confidence limit concentrations of Salmonella, Cryptosporidium and Giardia may be up to 2.62 × 10-5 , 2.55 × 10-4 and 2.86 × 10-3 , respectively. This study provides useful information for the residents, health care workers and managers to improve the safety of surface water and reduce the risk of fecal contamination in the TGR.