Muddying the waters: a new area of concern for drinking water contamination in Cameroon.

ABSTRACT: In urban Maroua, Cameroon, improved drinking water sources are available to a large majority of the population, yet this water is frequently distributed through informal distribution systems and stored in home containers (canaries), leaving it vulnerable to contamination. We assessed where contamination occurs within the distribution system, determined potential sources of environmental contamination, and investigated potential pathogens. Gastrointestinal health status (785 individuals) was collected via health surveys. Drinking water samples were collected from drinking water sources and canaries. Escherichia coli and total coliform levels were evaluated and molecular detection was performed to measure human-associated faecal marker, HF183; tetracycline-resistance gene, tetQ; Campylobacte

SUBMITTER: Profitos JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4276624 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature