Assessment of Drinking Water Quality for Helminth Ova and Protozoan Cysts in Rural Abia State, South East Nigeria

Contaminated drinking water serves as a major vehicle for the transmission of intestinal helminth ova and protozoan cysts to communities lacking access to treated water supplies, contributing substantially to the burden of waterborne parasitic disease. This study evaluates the quality of drinking water sources in rural communities of Abia State, South East Nigeria, with respect to the presence of helminth ova and protozoan cysts. A cross-sectional environmental survey was conducted in three local government areas including Bende, Isuikwuato, and Arochukwu. Water samples were collected from bore holes, hand-dug wells, streams, and ponds in twenty communities. Each sample was concentrated using the membrane filtration technique and examined microscopically for Ascaris, Trichuris, Schistosoma, Giardia, and Entamoeba ova and cysts. Physicochemical parameters including turbidity, pH, and temperature were measured in the field. Current literature from 2020 to 2024 documents widespread faecal contamination of rural water sources in southeastern Nigeria, with open defecation and inadequate wellhead protection as primary contributors. This study quantifies parasite load by water source type and correlates contamination with surrounding sanitation conditions. Findings will support state-level WASH programming and will be presented to the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency in Abia State. Keywords: drinking water quality, helminth ova, protozoan cysts, Abia State, waterborne parasites.