Environmental determinants of E. coli, link with the diarrheal diseases, and indication of vulnerability criteria in tropical West Africa (Kapore, Burkina Faso)

In 2017, diarrheal diseases were responsible for 606 024 deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. This situation is due to domestic and recreational use of polluted surface waters, deficits in hygiene, access to healthcare and drinking water, and to weak environmental and health monitoring infrastructures. Esc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	PLoS neglected tropical diseases Vol. 15; no. 8; p. e0009634
Main Authors:	Robert, Elodie, Grippa, Manuela, Nikiema, Dayangnéwendé Edwige, Kergoat, Laurent, Koudougou, Hamidou, Auda, Yves, Rochelle-Newall, Emma
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	San Francisco Public Library of Science 01.08.2021 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:	Aquatic resources Atmospheric precipitations Bacteria Bacteriology Biology and Life Sciences Burkina Faso Climate change Concessions Contamination Criteria Data Diarrhea Diseases Drinking water Dynamics E coli Earth Sciences Ecology and Environmental Sciences Ecology, environment Environmental aspects Environmental factors Epidemiology Escherichia coli Escherichia coli infections Fecal coliforms Feces Gastroenteritis Hazard assessment Health Health aspects Health care Health care facilities Health hazards Health policy Health risks Human health and pathology Hygiene Hépatology and Gastroenterology Infectious diseases Inland waters Lakes Least squares method Life Sciences Medicine and Health Sciences Microbiology and Parasitology Monsoons Normalized difference vegetative index Parameters Particulate matter Pathogens Political aspects Pollution monitoring Precipitation Rain Rainfall Rainy season Recreational use Reflectance Remote sensing Research and Analysis Methods Risk factors Rural areas Santé publique et épidémiologie Satellites Surface water Suspended particulate matter Temperature Tropical climate Tropical diseases Vulnerability Water levels Water monitoring Water quality Water quality management Water resources Water shortages Wet season Burkina Faso South Africa Southern Africa West Africa Sub-Saharan Africa Enterococcus Escherichia coli Surface water Diarrhea Seasons Medical risk factors Water resources Near-infrared spectroscopy
ISSN:	1935-2735, 1935-2727, 1935-2735
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	In 2017, diarrheal diseases were responsible for 606 024 deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. This situation is due to domestic and recreational use of polluted surface waters, deficits in hygiene, access to healthcare and drinking water, and to weak environmental and health monitoring infrastructures. Escherichia coli ( E . coli ) is an indicator for the enteric pathogens that cause many diarrheal diseases. The links between E . coli , diarrheal diseases and environmental parameters have not received much attention in West Africa, and few studies have assessed health risks by taking into account hazards and socio-health vulnerabilities. This case study, carried out in Burkina Faso (Bagre Reservoir), aims at filling this knowledge gap by analyzing the environmental variables that play a role in the dynamics of E . coli , cases of diarrhea, and by identifying initial vulnerability criteria. A particular focus is given to satellite-derived parameters to assess whether remote sensing can provide a useful tool to assess the health hazard. Samples of surface water were routinely collected to measure E . coli , enterococci and suspended particulate matter (SPM) at a monitoring point (Kapore) during one year. In addition, satellite data were used to estimate precipitation, water level, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and SPM. Monthly epidemiological data for cases of diarrhea from three health centers were also collected and compared with microbiological and environmental data. Finally, semi-structured interviews were carried out to document the use of water resources, contact with elements of the hydrographic network, health behavior and condition, and water and health policy and prevention, in order to identify the initial vulnerability criteria. A positive correlation between E . coli and enterococci in surface waters was found indicating that E . coli is an acceptable indicator of fecal contamination in this region. E . coli and diarrheal diseases were strongly correlated with monsoonal precipitation, in situ SPM, and Near Infra-Red (NIR) band between March and November. Partial least squares regression showed that E . coli concentration was strongly associated with precipitation, Sentinel-2 reflectance in the NIR and SPM, and that the cases of diarrhea were strongly associated with precipitation, NIR, E . coli , SPM, and to a lesser extent with NDVI. Moreover, E . coli dynamics were reproduced using satellite data alone, particularly from February to mid-December (R 2 = 0.60) as were cases of diarrhea throughout the year (R 2 = 0.76). This implies that satellite data could provide an important contribution to water quality monitoring. Finally, the vulnerability of the population was found to increase during the rainy season due to reduced accessibility to healthcare and drinking water sources and increased use of water of poor quality. During this period, surface water is used because it is close to habitations, easy to use and free from monetary or political constraints. This vulnerability is aggravated by marginality and particularly affects the Fulani, whose concessions are often close to surface water (river, lake) and far from health centers.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 14 content type line 23 PMCID: PMC8370611 The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
ISSN:	1935-2735 1935-2727 1935-2735
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pntd.0009634