Detection of parasitic helminth eggs in the raw wastewater in the Al-Qadmus area -Tartous –Syria

Abstract

Untreated wastewater is a major source of pollution and the spread of many biological pathogens, especially parasites, in the environment. Hence, the importance of this study in revealing the prevalence of parasitic worm eggs as an important biological indicator of contamination with biological pathogens in raw wastewater in the Al-Qadmus area of ​​Tartous governorate.

Water samples were collected from three random wastewater transfer sites, twice a quarter during 2023-2024, with three monthly replicates, each containing two liters. The samples were examined using the Bailinger (1989) egg isolation method, and species were identified based on international taxonomic standards.

The results confirmed the presence of parasitic helminth eggs contamination in raw wastewater in the Qadmus area. Ten different species of parasitic helminth eggs were identified: five belonged to the Nematoda class, five to the Platyhelminthes phylum, four to the Cestoda class, and one to the Trematoda class. The presence of helminth eggs, a nematode pathogenic to animals, was also recorded. The results showed that Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta eggs were the most prevalent, and that egg contamination was higher in the summer than in other seasons. The total egg count isolated from raw sewage in the Al-Qadmus region of ​​all species was4.08 eggs/liter, which is significantly higher than the World Health Organization's permissible limit of 1 egg/liter.