Identification of Parasitic Protozoan and Helminth Eggs From Barito River Water in Penda Asam Village, South Barito Regency
Keywords:
parasitic protozoan; helminth eggs; river waterAbstract
Introduction: Infections caused by intestinal protozoa and helminths continue to pose a major public health challenge in developing countries. Their occurrence is strongly associated with inadequate environmental sanitation and poor water quality. Rivers can serve as a transmission medium for parasitic stages originating from fecal contamination. Objective: This study aimed to identify parasitic protozoa and helminth eggs in water from the Barito River, taken from Penda Asam Village, South Barito Regency, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. Methods: This study used a descriptive observational design. River water samples were collected from the upstream, middle, and downstream sections using a random sampling technique. Samples were processed using sedimentation and centrifugation methods, followed by microscopic examination using Lugol's iodine staining for morphological identification. Results: The results showed the presence of intestinal protozoa, including Balantidium sp., Giardia sp., Endolimax sp., Entamoeba sp., and Blastocystis sp., as well as helminth eggs identified as Ascaris sp and Trichuris sp. The detection of protozoan cysts, trophozoites, and helminth eggs indicated fecal contamination of the river water and indicated a potential risk of waterborne parasite transmission among people who use the river for daily activities. Conclusions: The Barito River water in Penda Asam Village is contaminated with parasitic protozoa and worm eggs, which highlights the importance of improving environmental sanitation and implementing regular river water quality monitoring to reduce the risk of intestinal parasitic infections.
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