The detection of Entamoeba histolytica and Toxoplasma gondii in wastewater

Journal
Journal of toxicology and environmental health  
Volume
81
Issue
1-3
Start Page
1
End Page
5
Citation
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health - Part A: Current Issues 1-3 (81): 1-5 (2018-02-01)
Publisher DOI
10.1080/15287394.2017.1392399
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85035079021
To increase current knowledge on the epidemiology of protozoan parasites in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), the occurrence of Entamoeba histolytica and Toxoplasma gondii in raw and treated wastewater was investigated. Samples were collected from WWTP twice a month over a period of 8 months. Determination of protozoa was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and light microscopy. After concentration and purification of wastewater samples, DNA extraction was conducted followed by PCR amplification of small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene sequences of E. histolytica and B1 gene of T. gondii. Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) primer set was designed from E. histolytica hemolysin gene HLY6. Amplification of DNA in the LAMP mixture was monitored by naked eye as a blue color solution after addition of, hydroxynaphthol blue (HNB) to the reaction tube. Light microscopy revealed the presence of Entamoeba in all raw wastewater samples and treated water samples. PCR amplification of DNA products revealed that all, (9/9) wastewater samples were positive for Entamoeba. None was positive for Toxoplasma. These findings, which corroborate recent observations, indicate that E. histolytica may pose a public health risk.
More Funding Information
The authors would like to thank the German Research Foundation (DFG) for funding this work.