Recuperação de ovos de helmintos em amostras de águas residuárias urbanas de populações de baixa renda da cidade de Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the recovery of helminth eggs in samples of wastewater from urban low-income populations, in comparison with average values determined in samples collected sewage networks of Campina Grande City, Paraíba state, Brazil. The study was carried out in the municipal sewerage system and involved four collection points located in different basins. It was used BAILENGER method (modified by AYRES and MARA, 1996), performed according to the technique described in ZERBINI (2000). Points P1, P2 and P3, representing the general sewage network of the city, had lower concentrations of helminth eggs when compared to that of point P4, receiving wastewaters from low-income places - Glory I and II, Belo Monte and Jardim America. In the analysis of identification was possible to identify helminth eggs of various genera of sanitary interest, belonging to the classes Cestoda (Taenia, Hymenolepis nana and diminuta) and Nematoda (Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm). The helminth eggs that occurred most frequently were those of Ascaris sp, predominantly at all points, while the eggs of Hymenolepis diminuta were observed less frequently. High concentrations of helminth eggs in point P4 were attributed to the low level of social, economic and sanitary education (poor hygiene and cleaning) conditions of low-income places, given that population has access to basic sanitation infrastructure. It was concluded that wastewaters from low-income neighborhoods have high concentration of helminth eggs, when compared to the average of the city.