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Parasitological Assessment of Sewage Sludge Samples for Potential Agricultural Reuse in Tunisia

Author

Listed:
  • Sonia Sabbahi

    (LR16INRGREF02 Laboratoire de Recherche Valorisation des Eaux Non Conventionnelles, Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF) Rue Hédi Karray, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2080, Tunisia)

  • Layla Ben Ayed

    (Laboratoire Sciences et Technologies des Eaux, Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, Tunis 1082, Tunisia)

  • Monia Trad

    (LR16INRGREF02 Laboratoire de Recherche Valorisation des Eaux Non Conventionnelles, Institut National de Recherche en Génie Rural Eaux et Forêts (INRGREF) Rue Hédi Karray, Université de Carthage, Ariana 2080, Tunisia)

  • Ronny Berndtsson

    (Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Division of Water Resources Engineering, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden)

  • Panagiotis Karanis

    (Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 21 Ilia Papakyriakou, 2414 Engomi, CY-1700 Nicosia, Cyprus)

Abstract

Wastewater sludge represents an important resource for reuse in agriculture. However, potentially harmful pathogens are a main threat in this context. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the presence of helminth ova and protozoan cysts in dried sewage sludge samples collected from ten wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in eight governorates in Tunisia. Based on morphological criteria, protozoan cysts of Giardia spp., Entamoeba histolytica / dispar / moshkovskii , and Entamoeba coli , were detected in all dried sludge composite samples (N = 116) from the investigated WWTPs. The mean concentration ranged from 1.4 to 10.7 cysts per 100 g dry matter (DM). The identified helminth eggs were Ascaris spp., Strongyles , Taeniid eggs, Hymenolepis nana , Enterobius vermicularis , and hookworm species. Ascaris spp. and Taeniid eggs were detected in 56.9 and 74.1% of analyzed samples, respectively. The presence of Trichuris spp., Hymenolepis diminuta , and Toxocara spp. eggs in dried sewage sludge samples was low (0.9, 1.7, and 2.6%, respectively). The mean concentration of helminth eggs during the three-year study was less than 1 egg/100 g DM. All examined dried sewage sludge sample contents were below the WHO (2006) and US EPA (2003) recommendations, and thus, the sludge can potentially be reused in agriculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Sonia Sabbahi & Layla Ben Ayed & Monia Trad & Ronny Berndtsson & Panagiotis Karanis, 2022. "Parasitological Assessment of Sewage Sludge Samples for Potential Agricultural Reuse in Tunisia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-18, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:3:p:1657-:d:739877
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Emily F. Shanahan & Anne Roiko & Neil W. Tindale & Michael P. Thomas & Ronald Walpole & D. İpek Kurtböke, 2010. "Evaluation of Pathogen Removal in a Solar Sludge Drying Facility Using Microbial Indicators," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Maria Cristina Collivignarelli & Alessandro Abbà & Andrea Frattarola & Marco Carnevale Miino & Sergio Padovani & Ioannis Katsoyiannis & Vincenzo Torretta, 2019. "Legislation for the Reuse of Biosolids on Agricultural Land in Europe: Overview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-22, October.
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    1. Monica Adriana Costea & Cristina Adriana Rosan & Vasile Laslo & Eliza Agud & Cornelia Purcarea & Simona Ioana Vicas, 2024. "The Comet Assay as a Sustainable Method for Evaluating the Genotoxicity Caused by the Soluble Fraction Derived from Sewage Sludge on Diverse Cell Types, Including Lymphocytes, Coelomocytes and Allium ," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-18, January.
    2. Nidhal Marzougui & Nadia Ounalli & Sonia Sabbahi & Tarek Fezzani & Farah Abidi & Sihem Jebari & Sourour Melki & Ronny Berndtsson & Walid Oueslati, 2022. "How Can Sewage Sludge Use in Sustainable Tunisian Agriculture Be Increased?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.

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