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A longitudinal study of the association between domestic contact with livestock and contamination of household Point-of-Use stored drinking water in rural Siaya County (Kenya)

A longitudinal study of the association between domestic contact with livestock and contamination of household Point-of-Use stored drinking water in rural Siaya County (Kenya)
A longitudinal study of the association between domestic contact with livestock and contamination of household Point-of-Use stored drinking water in rural Siaya County (Kenya)

Background: Emerging evidence suggests close domestic proximity of livestock and humans may lead to microbiological contamination of hands, objects, food and water supplies within domestic environments, adversely impacting public health. However, evidence quantifying the relationship between livestock, domestic animals, humans and microbiological contamination of household stored water remains limited. Aim: This longitudinal study aimed to examine the relationship between domestic contact with livestock and domestic animals on microbiological contamination of household Point-of-Use (POU) stored drinking water in rural Kenya and assess the influence of choice of faecal indicator on such associations. Methodology: A survey was performed in 234 households in Siaya county, Kenya, to observe presence of livestock (cattle, goats, poultry) and domestic animals (cats, dogs) in household compounds, alongside other risk factors for contamination of POU stored drinking water such as sanitation, storage conditions and hygiene practices. Samples from water sources (e.g. piped, spring/wells, boreholes, surface and rainwater) and from POU storage containers were tested for E. coli and intestinal enterococci. Livestock-related risk factors for water contamination were examined through multinomial regression, controlling for confounders. Results: Rainwater was the main POU water source and was found to be highly susceptible to contamination. Multivariate analysis showed greater risk of gross (>100 CFU/100 mL) water contamination (with E. coli) for households where goats were observed, and/or where poultry roosted in proximity to stored household water (relative risk RR = 2.71; p = 0.001 and RR = 2.02; p = 0.012 respectively). Presence of a poultry coop was also associated with elevated intestinal enterococci densities (RR = 4.46; p = 0.001). Associations between contamination and livestock risk factors were thus similar for both bacteria groups, but E. coli counts declined more rapidly following collection from surface waters than enterococci counts (p = 0.024). Conclusion: The presence of livestock (particularly goats) and poultry within household compounds increases POU water contamination risk, suggesting the need for improved interventions to address cross-contamination within rural domestic settings. Within Siaya county, more effective community education is needed to raise awareness of POU water quality protection, particularly of rainwater.

Faecal indicator bacteria, Health risks, Household water storage, Livestock, Water quality
1438-4639
Gomes da Silva, Diogo
0a247507-43aa-4853-a41f-25d9324d9866
Ebdon, James
3658faca-9200-40a0-93fa-214e20f25a9b
Okotto-Okotto, Joseph
a8cb5abe-ee03-4c93-978b-b02a02350e26
Ade, Frederick
ab9ce6b6-8065-40ce-9e79-a4b6f2b97ece
Mito, Oscar
2551d61e-049f-46e5-9402-dc890adcac2c
Wanza, Peggy
fe7bfcdb-f5fd-492d-a60c-efe97fffb3b0
Kwoba, Emmah
25a80128-b537-43d4-a313-25026767b7d4
Mwangi, Thumbi
b5751868-17cd-4b63-9ec1-6ba33c3c1c85
Yu, Weiyu
4cca6f0a-badb-4f1c-8b38-da29ba0b9e09
Wright, James
94990ecf-f8dd-4649-84f2-b28bf272e464
Gomes da Silva, Diogo
0a247507-43aa-4853-a41f-25d9324d9866
Ebdon, James
3658faca-9200-40a0-93fa-214e20f25a9b
Okotto-Okotto, Joseph
a8cb5abe-ee03-4c93-978b-b02a02350e26
Ade, Frederick
ab9ce6b6-8065-40ce-9e79-a4b6f2b97ece
Mito, Oscar
2551d61e-049f-46e5-9402-dc890adcac2c
Wanza, Peggy
fe7bfcdb-f5fd-492d-a60c-efe97fffb3b0
Kwoba, Emmah
25a80128-b537-43d4-a313-25026767b7d4
Mwangi, Thumbi
b5751868-17cd-4b63-9ec1-6ba33c3c1c85
Yu, Weiyu
4cca6f0a-badb-4f1c-8b38-da29ba0b9e09
Wright, James
94990ecf-f8dd-4649-84f2-b28bf272e464

Gomes da Silva, Diogo, Ebdon, James, Okotto-Okotto, Joseph, Ade, Frederick, Mito, Oscar, Wanza, Peggy, Kwoba, Emmah, Mwangi, Thumbi, Yu, Weiyu and Wright, James (2020) A longitudinal study of the association between domestic contact with livestock and contamination of household Point-of-Use stored drinking water in rural Siaya County (Kenya). International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 230, [113602]. (doi:10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113602).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: Emerging evidence suggests close domestic proximity of livestock and humans may lead to microbiological contamination of hands, objects, food and water supplies within domestic environments, adversely impacting public health. However, evidence quantifying the relationship between livestock, domestic animals, humans and microbiological contamination of household stored water remains limited. Aim: This longitudinal study aimed to examine the relationship between domestic contact with livestock and domestic animals on microbiological contamination of household Point-of-Use (POU) stored drinking water in rural Kenya and assess the influence of choice of faecal indicator on such associations. Methodology: A survey was performed in 234 households in Siaya county, Kenya, to observe presence of livestock (cattle, goats, poultry) and domestic animals (cats, dogs) in household compounds, alongside other risk factors for contamination of POU stored drinking water such as sanitation, storage conditions and hygiene practices. Samples from water sources (e.g. piped, spring/wells, boreholes, surface and rainwater) and from POU storage containers were tested for E. coli and intestinal enterococci. Livestock-related risk factors for water contamination were examined through multinomial regression, controlling for confounders. Results: Rainwater was the main POU water source and was found to be highly susceptible to contamination. Multivariate analysis showed greater risk of gross (>100 CFU/100 mL) water contamination (with E. coli) for households where goats were observed, and/or where poultry roosted in proximity to stored household water (relative risk RR = 2.71; p = 0.001 and RR = 2.02; p = 0.012 respectively). Presence of a poultry coop was also associated with elevated intestinal enterococci densities (RR = 4.46; p = 0.001). Associations between contamination and livestock risk factors were thus similar for both bacteria groups, but E. coli counts declined more rapidly following collection from surface waters than enterococci counts (p = 0.024). Conclusion: The presence of livestock (particularly goats) and poultry within household compounds increases POU water contamination risk, suggesting the need for improved interventions to address cross-contamination within rural domestic settings. Within Siaya county, more effective community education is needed to raise awareness of POU water quality protection, particularly of rainwater.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 5 August 2020
e-pub ahead of print date: 7 September 2020
Published date: September 2020
Additional Information: Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier GmbH.. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Faecal indicator bacteria, Health risks, Household water storage, Livestock, Water quality

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 443797
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/443797
ISSN: 1438-4639
PURE UUID: 6788255e-24f5-405a-b501-8d2150bc3159
ORCID for James Wright: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-8842-2181

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Date deposited: 14 Sep 2020 16:30
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 02:59

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Contributors

Author: Diogo Gomes da Silva
Author: James Ebdon
Author: Joseph Okotto-Okotto
Author: Frederick Ade
Author: Oscar Mito
Author: Peggy Wanza
Author: Emmah Kwoba
Author: Thumbi Mwangi
Author: Weiyu Yu
Author: James Wright ORCID iD

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