Assessment of Parasitological Water Quality from House Kitchens and Desalination Plants Filters in Gaza Strip

This study was conducted to assess parasitological water quality from house kitchens and desalination plants filters in Gaza Strip. A total of 420 samples were collected from the five Governorates of Gaza Strip; 300 samples were collected from 100 houses and 120 samples were collected from 40 desalination plants. All samples were examined using direct wet mount, acid fast stain and Polymerase Chain Reaction. The randomlly distributed questionnaire included questions regarding economic and social factors, water sources, reported symptoms and public health. Results revealed that only Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in eight of drinking water samples 1.9% (8/420). Eight samples were positive when using acid-fast stain (Cryptosporidium spp.) in Reverse osmosis (RO) house filters. Using PCR to identify Cryptosporidium spp. (C. parvum and C. hominis), only one sample (0.24%) was positive for C. parvum while there are no positive samples for C. hominis. The occurrence of Cryptosporidium oocysts in the investigated water supplies may require the water utilities and water authorities in Gaza Strip to apply additional monitoring, treatment and/or watershed controls for safe drinking water.