Question

Why is it not safe to drink water from unknown source? What particular risk does it pose to your health? Explain using your knowledge of microorganisms

Answer 1

Answer:

Fact sheets are provided on potential waterborne pathogens as well as on indicator microorganisms.

The waterborne microorganisms potentially causing illness include:

bacteria, viruses, protozoa and helminths identified in Table 7.1 and Figure 7.1;

potentially emerging pathogens, including Helicobacter pylori, Tsukamurella, Isospora belli and microsporidia, for which waterborne transmission is plausible but unconfirmed;

hazardous cyanobacteria.

The human health effects caused by waterborne transmission vary in severity from mild gastroenteritis to severe and sometimes fatal diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis and typhoid fever. Contaminated water can be the source of large outbreaks of disease, including cholera, dysentery and cryptosporidiosis; for the majority of waterborne pathogens, however, there are other important sources of infection, such as person-to-person contact and food.

Most waterborne pathogens are introduced into drinking-water supplies in human or animal faeces, do not grow in water and initiate infection in the gastrointestinal tract following ingestion. However, Legionella, atypical mycobacteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei, Acanthamoeba spp. and Naegleria fowleri are environmental organisms that can grow in water and soil. Besides ingestion, other routes of transmission can include inhalation, leading to infections of the respiratory tract (e.g. Legionella, atypical mycobacteria), and contact, leading to infections at sites as diverse as the skin and brain (e.g. Naegleria fowleri, Burkholderia pseudomallei).

Of all the waterborne pathogens, the helminth Dracunculus medinensis is unique in that it is the only pathogen that is solely transmitted through drinking-water.

The fact sheets on potential pathogens include information on human health effects, sources and occurrence, routes of transmission and the significance of drinking-water as a source of infection. The fact sheets on microorganisms that can be used as indicators of the effectiveness of control measures or of the potential presence of pathogenic microorganisms provide information on indicator value, source and occurrence, application and significance of detection.

Explanation:

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