Comparative study of parasitological and bacteriological quality between vegetables grown with wastewater and vegetables from market gardens

• Grant number: 10/51211-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: October 01, 2010
• End date: September 30, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Susana Segura Muñoz
• Grantee: Susana Segura Muñoz
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (EERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The misuse and degradation of water sources available are causing their decline and scarcity. The use of treated wastewater is an alternative to reduce the cost of this resource in agricultural practices, but should be done in a way that does not cause problems for public health. Vegetables are cited as one of the most important vehicles in the transmission of intestinal parasites. The objective of this study is to analyze and compare the parasitological and bacteriological quality of vegetables irrigated with wastewater treated and chlorinated from the Ribeirão Preto - Wastewater Treatment Plant (RP-WWTP) and vegetables sold in Ribeirão Preto - SP. In RP-WWTP will be a garden for the cultivation of vegetables that will be irrigated with recycled water from which it will collect 40 samples. 40 will be drawn for market gardens, where will be collect a sample in each establishment. As a control, will be collected 40 samples of vegetables irrigated with fresh water, cultured in RP-WWTP. The samples will be taken to the Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Parasitology, School of Nursing of Ribeirão Preto/USP, for analysis of Cryptosporidium and Giardia lamblia by the Technique of Immuno-Magnetic Separation, with the use of Immunofluorescence Microscopy and Phase Contrast. Other pathogenic parasites will be identified by Lutz and Faust Methods. The bacteriological analysis will be made by the Defined Substrate Technology - DST. The results will assess the potential water reuse in the production of vegetables. (AU)