OBJECTIVE: To identify the level of contamination with thermotolerant coliforms ( @entity839 ), @entity11333 in water @entity2772 (Ipomoea aquatica) cultivated in a wastewater-fed lake in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. METHODS: The investigation was carried out from July 2004 to May 2005 in Boeng Cheung Ek lake, a main recipient of wastewater from the city of Phnom Penh. Water @entity2772 samples were collected near two wastewater entry points in the northern part of the lake and near a wastewater exit point in the southern part of the lake, where water is discharged from the lake into a stream. Water @entity2772 samples were harvested at each of the three locations with and without wastewater contact according to the normal practices of farmers, and analysed for @entity839 , protozoan @entity4801 (Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora), and helminth eggs ( @entity9124 , @entity13857 and hookworm) using standard methods. Wastewater samples were also collected at each of the three locations and analysed for @entity839 and helminth eggs. RESULTS: High concentrations of @entity839 (approximately 10(5)-10(7)/g) were found in water @entity2772 samples. @entity839 mean counts did not differ significantly, neither between sample types at each location, nor between locations. @entity839 mean concentration of water @entity2772 samples collected in the rainy season of 2005 was higher than that in the dry season of 2004. Protozoan @entity4801 were detected in the samples from all three locations and in water @entity2772 harvested with and without wastewater contact. Giardia spp. were present in 56% (20) of samples with an average cyst concentration of 6.6/g. Mean counts of Giardia were not significantly associated with wastewater contact status of water @entity2772 . Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 17% (six) of samples with an average concentration of 0.5 oocyst per gram of water @entity2772 . Cyclospora oocysts were detected in 8% (three) of samples. Four (11%) water @entity2772 samples contained helminth eggs (average concentration: 0.1 egg per gram). Water samples contained approximately 10(4)-10(7) @entity839 per 100 ml and a mean of 27.4 helminth eggs per litre. There was a 2-3 log reduction of @entity839 between the water samples collected at the wastewater entry and exit point(s) of the lake. CONCLUSIONS: Water @entity2772 cultivated in the lake was highly contaminated with feces, as indicated by high @entity839 concentrations and the presence of protozoan @entity4801 . A reduction in @entity839 numbers almost to WHO guideline levels for irrigation water occurred through natural biological and physical processes in the lake, as shown by differences in @entity839 counts at wastewater entry and exit points.

Faecal and protozoan parasite contamination of water XXXX (Ipomoea aquatica) cultivated in urban wastewater in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

@entity11333 :: ('MESH:D007411', 'Disease') :: ['intestinal helminth eggs and protozoan parasites'] @entity839 :: ('MESH:D013759', 'Chemical') :: ['ThC'] @entity2772 :: ('3562', 'Species') :: ['spinach'] @entity9124 :: ('6252', 'Species') :: ['Ascaris lumbricoides'] @entity4801 :: ('MESH:D010272', 'Disease') :: ['parasites'] @entity13857 :: ('36087', 'Species') :: ['Trichuris trichura']
@entity2772 :: (3562,Species) :: ['spinach']
