Prevalence and viability of helminth eggs in sewage sludge, in natura and treated in a agricultural greenhouse, from two sewage treatment station of the city Ribeirão Preto, SP

• Grant number: 15/25167-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2016
• End date: December 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Helminthology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Susana Segura Muñoz
• Grantee: Guilherme Sgobbi Zagui
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto (EERP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The sewage is compound of organic matter and several pathogenic microorganisms with high-potential contamination of streams and rivers. The construction of Sewage Treatment Station aims to restore and improve the quality of its effluents. Currently, the treatment of wastewater by activated sludge is the most used methodology and generates a residue termed sewage sludge which in turn can be a polluting by its microbiological and chemical composition. It should be noted that the sludge is rich in organic compounds and are often intended for agriculture after treatment. The objective of the study is to evaluate the occurrence of helminth eggs and their viability in sewage sludge in natura and dry after heat treatment, since they are resistant to treatment and can compromise its use on the agriculture. For detection of helminth eggs will be used Test Method for Detecting, Enumeration, and Determining Viability of the Ascaris Ova in Sludge from USEPA of 2003. It's expected future results showing higher prevalence of helminth eggs in the raw sewage sludge than in the sludge after heat treatment in a agricultural greenhouse, verifying the same efficiency as the non-viability of the eggs.