Isolation of Parasitic and Fungal Organisms Associated with Leachates in Some Selected Dumpsites in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State

Abstract

Leachate is a discharge interface from leaching, as of dissolvable organic constituents from pollutants and landfill by sloping downward exude dregs water. They are formed when precipitation enters wastes in dumpsites. This study isolated the parasitic and fungal organisms associated with leachates in some selected dumpsites in Awka, Anambra State. A total of 200 leachate samples were collected. Fifty (50) samples were collected from Ifite (along Ifite road), 50 samples from Eke-Awka (market), while 50 samples were collected in Amaenyi (along Nkwo Amaenyi road). The method used for conducting the experiment was centrifugation and microscopy. Fungi were also cultured during the experiment. The result of the study revealed that out of 200 leachate samples examined, a total of 200(100%) were infested with parasites. A total of five species of parasites were obtained on examination of the leachates which include Giardia lamblia, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, Strongyloides stercoralis, Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba coli. G. lamblia had the highest abundance of 37(71.15%) followed by S. stercoralis 6(11.54%) while D. dendriticum, E. histolytica and E. coli had the least prevalence of 3(5.77) each. However, there was no significant difference between the parasite species found in leachates in the study area (P>0.05). The study also revealed that Eke-Awka had the highest parasite abundance of 18(34.62%) followed by Amaenyi which had 13(25.00%) and then Ifite which had 11(21.15%). However, there was no significant difference in the abundance of parasites species found in leachates in the location of the dumpsites (P>0.05). Fungi species isolated during this study were Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus oryzae, Saccharomyces spp, Candida spp, Penicillium spp, Fusarium spp, and Mucor spp. The presence of these parasitic and fungal organisms in the environment  poses a great threat to human health hence waste managers should take proper precautions while handling wastes.