Population load of targeted parasites and bacteria in pit latrine at Oshkhandas Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Paper Details
Population load of targeted parasites and bacteria in pit latrine at Oshkhandas Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
Abstract
This study is conductedin 2012-2013 in Oshkhandas valley to assess the harmful implications of open defecation. The people of the are deprived from the facility of modern toilet system. So they have constructed a vernacular system known as pit latrine(called as dasichukan in local language).This area has not been conferred a good sanitary system by the concerned departments. Hence this area is the good heaven for pathogens which are causing damage to the economy and heath of the inhabitants of the area. Our research has shown that, annually aconsiderable number of infants, young ones, adults and old age people fall prey to the diseasesby targeted bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella) and parasites (Ascaris lumbricoid, Trichuris trichuria, Gardialamblia and Cryptosporidium). Neither vernacular nor scientific technique has been educated to the people of area to minimize the detrimental and injurious influenceof the above said pathogens. The people were also using pit content as organic fertilizer without knowing the fact about how to properly compost it. They were handling with un-composted pit content without taking the available precautionary measures. In this connection this research was carried out and sample were taken from both pit latrine and agriculture field to assess the microbial load in pit and agriculture soil in different months. Our finding revealed that the population burden in pit versus soil did not differ significantly. So proper composting is inevitable to lessen the threats posed by the targeted bacteria and parasites. Overall 100 samples were taken 50 each from pit and 50 each from soil. The microbial population load in pit was observed as 3739/50g while the microbial burden in soil was recorded as3226/50gand totalbacterial and parasite load in both pit and soil was 6965.50/100g.
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Syed Arif Hussain, Khalil Ahmed, Zeba Rasmussen, Arif-un-Nisa Naqvi, A. R Shakoori,Saira Baig, 2015. Population load of targeted parasites and bacteria in pit latrine at Oshkhandas Valley, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. J. Biodiv. Environ. Sci., 6(2), 225-232.
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