Microbial health risks associated with rotavirus and enteric bacteria in River Ala in Akure, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the microbial health risks associated with surface water commonly used for bathing, drinking, domestic and irrigational activities in Akure, Nigeria.

Water samples were collected from the river from March to June, 2018. The load of enteric bacteria, somatic coliphages and rotavirus in the water samples was determined using culture-based methods and molecular technique. The physicochemical characteristics of the water samples were determined using standard methods. The risks of rotavirus, Salmonella and Shigella infections resulting from ingestion of the water from the river, were estimated using dose-response model. Redundancy analysis revealed that the levels of E. coli and Salmonella were highly associated with salinity and turbidity. The risks of infection associated with rotavirus (3.3 × 10^-3 ) were higher than those associated with Salmonella (1.3 × 10^-4 ) and Shigella (1.3 × 10^-3 ), and were all above the WHO acceptable risk limit (10^-4 ).

Accidental or intentional ingestion of water from the river may pose potential risks of gastrointestinal illness to humans.

Quantitative microbial risk assessment is essential in establishing adequate water management practices that must be strictly followed in order to protect human health.