Revista de citología e histología

Evaluation of Microorganisms of Drinking Water of Rafha City, Northern Borders, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abdel Haleem AA, Hemida SK and Abdellatif MM

The present studies included evaluation of pathogenic parasitic protozoans, bacteria, fungi and algae collected from drinking water of three sources; wells, tap and three re-purifying water-private companies; from Rafha City, Northern Borders, Saudi Arabia, to count and identify these contaminants. The results revealed three species of parasitic protozoans (Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis), Four species of Coliform bacteria (Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae and E. aerogenes) beside seven bacterial genera (Bacillus, Brevibacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Aeromonas, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas), five genera of fungi (Aspergillus, Chrysoporium, Alternaria, Acremonium and Exophiala) as well as three genera of algae in tap and the present three re-purifying water-private companies (Anabaena, Microcystis and Oscillatoria). The present results indicated that the three water sources of Rafha city are important contributor to transmission of contaminants to consumers. The present work recommends future field-application of selected specialized antiparasites and anti-bacterial compounds to control, or at least reduce the present resulting contaminators to gain safe levels of drinking water, according to WHO (World Health Organisation -, or at least SASO (Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization) - levels, to reduce the risk of propagation of the present microorganisms