Index >> Microbes and Hydrosphere>>Some Important Waterborne Diseases

Diseases and transmission

Microbial agent

Sources of agent in water supply

General symptoms

Amoebiasis (hand to mouth)

Protozoan (Entamoeba histolytica cyst-like appearance).

Sewage, non treated drinking water, flies in water supply diarrhoea.

Abdominal discomfort, fatigue, weight loss, gas pains, fever, abdominal pain,

Campylobacteriosis (oral-faecal)

Campylobacter jejuni

Untreated water, sewage, poor hygiene, crowded conditions with inadequate sewage facilities

Watery diarrhoea, vomiting, occasional muscle cramps

Cholera (oral-fecal)

Vibrio cholerae conditions with inadequate

Untreated water, sewage, poor hygiene, crowded sewage facilities

Diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort

Cryptosporidiosis (oral)

ProtozoanCryptosporidium parvum

Collects on water filters and membranes that cannot be disinfected, animal manure, seasonal run-off of water

Flu like symptoms, watery diarrhea, loss of appetite, substantial loss of weight, bloating, increased gas

Cyclosporiosis

Protozoan Cyclospora cayetanensis

Sewage, non-treated drinking water aches, low-grade fever

Cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle and fatigue.

Giardiasis (oral-fecal) and (hand to mouth)

ProtozoanGiardia lamblia - most common intestinal parasite

Untreated water, poor disinfection, pipe breaks, leaks, ground water contamination, campgrounds where humans and wildlife use same source of water. Beavers and muskrats act as a reservoir for Giardia.

Diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, bloating gas and gas pains.

Hepatitis A (oral fecal)

Virus - Hepatitis A

Raw sewage, untreated drinking water, poor hygiene, ingestion discomfort, jaundice, of shell fish from sewage flooded beds.

Fever, chills, abdominal urine dark

Salmonellosis (oral transmission)

Bacterium - Salmonella sp.

Contaminated water, shell fish, turtles, fish.

Gastroenteritis, fever and rapid blood poisoning.

Schistosomiasis (immersion)

Schistosome

Contaminated fresh water with certain types of snails that carry schistosomes

Rash or itchy skin, fever, chills cough and muscle aches

Typhoid fever(oral-faecal)

Bacterium - Salmonella typhi

Raw sewage (carried and excreted in faeces by humans), water supplies with surface water source

Fever, headache, constipation, appetite loss, nausea diarrhoea vomiting and abdominal rash

Viral gastroenteritis(oral-faecal)

Viruses (includes Norwalk and rotavirus family)

sewage, contaminated water, inadequately disinfected drinking water (mostly surface water sources)

Repeated vomiting and diarrhoea over 24 hour period. Gastrointestinal discomfort, headache, fever