An Overview of the Potential Role of Water as a Vehicle of Zoonotic Protozoa

The quality of life for both humans and animals is greatly influenced by the availability of safe and clean water to drink. Waterborne infections pose a significant risk due to protozoan pathogens. The incidence of parasitic infections is on the rise globally, affecting both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. More than 524 parasite outbreaks brought on by tainted water had been documented by the year 2010. Thirty percent of the cases in these epidemics were in Europe alone, while nearly ninety-three percent happened in North America. Giardia intestinalis (40.6%) and Cryptosporidium parvum (50.8%) are the two kinds of protozoan parasites responsible for the majority of these epidemic outbreaks. Additionally, Entamoeba histolytica, another frequent aquatic protozoan, was found in 2.8–0.6% of the cases, which in no way lessens the significance of those diseases. The existence of surveillance programs to track water contamination with pathogenic protozoa and diagnostic capabilities is probably the reason for variations in the frequency of outbreaks throughout nations. Enhancing water safety and reducing the effects of waterborne protozoan diseases need greater focus and coordinated efforts. Public health experts can locate the source of the contamination and put the required controls in place to stop the spread of the infection and stop outbreaks by conducting appropriate surveillance on water contaminated with protozoa.