Abstract

This research was targeted at determining the load of enteric pathogens and possible diarrheal disease potentials of the water sources to prevent possible disease outbreak through improved portable water supply for the inhabitants. Water samples were collected from boreholes, underground tanks, and streams and subjected to standard microbiological analysis. The result of total heterotrophic bacterial count (THBC) and total coliform bacterial count (TCBC) (cfu/ml) ranged between 2.0×10⁵ to 1.2×10² and 4.8×10³ to 2.0×10¹ cfu/ml respectively. The isolates occurred thus: Escherichia coli (50.0%), Salmonella spp. (100%),Shigella spp. (100%), Streptococcus spp. (50.0%), Vibro spp. (20.0%), Proteus spp. (30.0%), Klebsiella spp. (80.0%), and Enterobacter spp. (50.0%). This showed thatSalmonella and Shigella spp. occurred highest (100%) in water samples followed byKlebsiella (80.0%); while the lowest occurrence was recorded by Vibro spp. (20.0%). The occurrence of total isolates in water samples showed thus: samples A (50.0%), B (37.5%), C (37.5), D (50.0%), E (25.0), F (75.0%), G (50.0%), H (87.5%), I (100%), and J (87.5%). These results show that stream water sources had more enteric pathogens followed by underground tank sources and borehole water sources being the least contaminated. Water sources in Ahiazu Mbaise are not free from enteric pathogens and might expose users to diarrhea.

Key words: Enteric pathogens, water sources, Ahiazu Mbaise, diarrhea, morbidity, mortality.