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Review
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Water pollution: A review
of microbial quality and health concerns of water, sediment
and fish in the aquatic ecosystem
Obasohan, E. E.1*, Agbonlahor, D. E.2
and Obano, E. E.3
1Faculty
of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, Ambrose Alli
University, Ekpoma, Nigeria.
2Department
of Microbiology, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State,
Nigeria.
3Faculty
of Agriculture, Fisheries Department, University of Benin,
Benin City.
*Corresponding author. E-mail:
ewaensohan@yahoo.com.
Accepted 30
December, 2009 |
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Abstract |
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This paper reviewed aquatic ecosystem pollution with
particular reference to pathogens in water, sediment and
fish and their human health concerns. It highlighted the
historical perspective of the relationship between microbes
and humans regarding the “ranging war” between them, arising
from the reckless exploitation of the biosphere by humans
and the resultant “revolt” by microbes in the form of
various pathogenic diseases that now plague mankind. Also
highlighted are pathogens and diseases in both wild and
cultured fish, citing reported cases in Nigeria to include
Samonella, Shigella and Leptospira spp., Proteus
vulgaris, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter diversus,
Pseudomonas florescens, Aeromonas hydrophilla, Staphylococus
aureus, Klebsiella aerogenes, Edwardsiella tarda and
Flexibacter columnaris. Some human diseases contacted
from contaminated/infected fish and fisheries’ products that
have been reported in Nigeria were reported to include: food
poisoning and gastroenteritis, diarrhea, bacillary
dysentery, typhoid and paratyphoid, clonorchiasis and
superficial wound infections and ulcers. In conclusion, the
paper reviewed the modes of infection of water related and
fish-borne diseases of human health concerns and recommended
ways to ameliorate their infection and spread.
Key
words:
Pollution, microbial quality, health concerns, aquatic
ecosystem. |
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