Prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora in Drinking Water Sources in Rural Jos, Plateau State

Waterborne parasitic protozoa including Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora cayetanensis are increasingly recognised as causes of diarrhoeal outbreaks in communities relying on unprotected water sources in rural Nigeria. This study determined the prevalence of Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora oocysts in drinking water sources across rural communities in Jos, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A total of 120 water samples from boreholes, hand-dug wells, streams, and rainwater storage tanks were collected and concentrated using membrane filtration. Oocysts were identified using modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining and confirmed by morphometric analysis under light microscopy. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 28.3 percent of water samples, while Cyclospora oocysts were found in 14.2 percent. Stream water samples had the highest contamination rates, with oocyst counts significantly above the WHO acceptable threshold. Hand-dug wells in communities proximate to open defecation fields also showed high positivity. Rainy season samples had significantly higher oocyst densities than dry season equivalents. The study recommends chlorine-resistant protozoan removal methods including sand filtration and UV disinfection, and advocates for government investment in protected water supply infrastructure in rural Plateau State. Keywords: Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, drinking water, waterborne parasites, Plateau State.