ArticleInternational journal of environmental research and public health2016
The Impact of Human Activities on Microbial Quality of Rivers in the Vhembe District, South Africa.
Article in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 16 papers.
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Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed.
- First Report ofFoods (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Occurrence ofMicroorganisms · 2026Article
- Identification, Comparison, and Profiling of Selected Diarrhoeagenic Pathogens from Diverse Water Sources and Human and Animal Faeces Using Whole-Genome Sequencing.Microorganisms · 2025Article
- Antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes, and ESBL (Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase) production analysis in E. coli strains from the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo River in Tamaulipas, Mexico.Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology] · 2024Article
- Distribution of host-specific Bacteriodales marker genes in water sources of selected rural areas of Vhembe District, South Africa.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Toxic heavy metal ions contamination in water and their sustainable reduction by eco-friendly methods: isotherms, thermodynamics and kinetics study.Scientific reports · 2024Review
- Article
- Assessing the Occurrence of Host-Specific Faecal Indicator Markers in Water Systems as a Function of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Practices: A Case Study in Rural Communities of Vhembe District Municipality, South Africa.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Assessment of the water sources for potential channels of faecal contamination within Vhembe District Municipality using sanitary inspections and hydrogen sulphide test.Scientific reports · 2023Article
- Occurrence of Hybrid DiarrhoeagenicMicroorganisms · 2021Article
- Detection of Free-Living Amoebae and Their Intracellular Bacteria in Borehole Water before and after a Ceramic Pot Filter Point-of-Use Intervention in Rural Communities in South Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- WASH infrastructure and practices in primary health care clinics in the rural Vhembe District municipality in South Africa.BMC family practice · 2021Article
- The role of hydro-environmental factors in Mayfly (Ephemeroptera, Insecta) community structure: Identifying threshold responses.Ecology and evolution · 2020Article
- Human Enteric Pathogens in Eight Rivers Used as Rural Household Drinking Water Sources in the Northern Region of South Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2020Article
- Bacterial Contamination of Children's Toys in Rural Day Care Centres and Households in South Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
- Abundance of Pathogenic Escherichia coli Virulence-Associated Genes in Well and Borehole Water Used for Domestic Purposes in a Peri-Urban Community of South Africa.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2017Article
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWater quality testing is dictated by microbial agents found at the time of sampling in reference to their acceptable risk levels. Human activities might contaminate valuable water resources and add to the microbial load present in water bodies. Therefore, the effects of human activities on the microbial quality of rivers collected from twelve catchments in the Vhembe District in South Africa were investigated, with samples analyzed for total coliform (TC) and Eschericha coli (E. coli) contents.
methodsPhysical parameters and various human activities were recorded for each sampling site. The Quanti-Tray(®) method was adopted for the assessment of TC and E. coli contents in the rivers over a two-year period. A multiplex polymerase chain (PCR) method was used to characterize the strains of E. coli found.
resultsThe microbial quality of the rivers was poor with both TC and E. coli contents found to be over acceptable limits set by the South African Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS). No significant difference (p > 0.05) was detected between TC and E. coli risks in dry and wet seasons. All six pathogenic E. coli strains were identified and Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), atypical Enteropathogenic E. coli (a-EPEC) and Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) were the most prevalent E. coli strains detected (respectively, 87%, 86% and 83%).
conclusionsThe study indicated that contamination in the majority of sampling sites, due to human activities such as car wash, animal grazing and farming, poses health risks to communities using the rivers for various domestic chores. It is therefore recommended that more education by the respective departments is done to avert pollution of rivers and prevent health risks to the communities in the Vhembe District.
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