OCCURRENCE AND ELIMINATION OF HELMINTH EGGS AT DIFFREENT STAGES IN THE SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS IN THE VHEMBE DISTRICT, SOUTH AFRICAAMIDOU SAMIE , PHINDILE NTEKELE , AHMED I. YAGI AND ALI ELBAKRIAbstract Little research has been done on the occurrence and removal of helminths ova from wastewater and sludge in South Africa. In the present study, wastewater and treated wastewater samples collected from 6 different sewage treatment plants over a period of nine months in the Vhembe district, South Africa were analysed microscopically for helminthova with the aim of determining the occurrence and capacity of the sewage treatment plants to eliminate them. Fifty nine out of the 141 samples (41.8%) analyzed tested positive for helminthova. The most common organism detected was Ascaris lumbricoides (31%) followed by Diphylobotrium latum and Opistorchis felines (4%). Other helminths eggs detected included: Hookworm and S. stercoralis (4%), B. coli and E. vermicularis (3%), Taeniaspp and C. sinensis (2.1%), P. westermanii, Trichostrongilus spp., and H. diminuta (0.7%). Infections with multiple helminth ova were also noted. Prevalence of helminth ova in the wastewater samples was highest in February, May and August indicating a possible seasonal occurrence. Findings suggest that it may be important to monitor the presence of helminth eggs in wastewater and treated wastewater in the Vhembe district, South Africa. Furthermore, urgent measures need to be taken in order to protect communities, especially the weak and vulnerable, against these infections.
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