Disease and Transmission

Microbial Agent

Sources of Agent in Water Supply

General Symptoms

Amebiasis (hand-to-mouth)

Protozoan (Entamoeba histolytic) (Cyst-like appearance)

Sewage, non-treated drinking water, flies in water supply

Abdominal discomfort, fatigue, weight loss, diarrhea, gas pains
Fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea

Campylobacteriosis (oral-fecal)

Untreated water, sewage, poor hygiene, crowded living conditions with inadequate sewage facilities

Watery diarrhea, vomiting, occasional muscle cramps

Cholera (oral-fecal)

Bacterium (Vibrio cholerae)

Untreated water, sewage, poor hygiene, crowded living conditions with inadequate sewage facilities.

Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort

Cryptosporidiosis (oral)

Protozoan (Cryptosporidium parvum)

Collects on water filters and membranes that cannot be disinfected, animal manure, seasonal runoff of water.

Flu-like symptoms, watery diarrhea , loss of appetite, substantial loss of weight, bloating, increased gas, stomach

Cyclosporiasis

Protozoan parasite (Cyclospora cayetanensis)

Sewage, non-treated drinking water

cramps, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, low-grade fever, and fatigue

Giardiasis (oral-fecal) (hand-to-mouth)

Protozoan (Giardia lamblia) Most common intestinal parasite

Untreated water, poor disinfection, pipe breaks, leaks, groundwater contamination, campgrounds where humans and wildlife use same source of water. Beavers and muskrats act as a reservoir for Giardia.

Diarrhea, abdominal discomfort, bloating, gas and gas pains

Hepatitis A (oral-fecal)

Virus (Hepatitis A)

Raw sewage, untreated drinking water, poor hygiene, ingestion of shellfish from sewage-flooded beds

Fever, chills, abdominal discomfort, jaundice, urine dark

Salmonellosis (oral transmission)

Bacterium (Salmonella species)

Contaminated water, shellfish, turtles, fish

Gastroenteritis, fever and rapid blood-poisoning.

Shigellosis (oral-fecal)

Bacterium (Shigella species)

Sludge, untreated wastewater, groundwater contamination, poorly disinfected drinking water.

Fever, diarrhea, bloody stools

Schistosomiasis (immersion)

Schistosoma

Contaminated fresh water with certain types of snails that carry schistosomes

Rash or itchy skin. Fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches

Typhoid fever (oral-fecal)

Bacterium (Salmonella typhi)

Raw sewage (carried and excreted in feces by humans), water supplies with surface water source.

Fever, headache, constipation, appetite loss, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal rash

Viral gastroenteritis (oral-fecal)

Viruses (includes Norwalk and rotavirus family)

Sewage, contaminated water, inadequately disinfected drinking water (mostly surface water sources).

Repeated vomiting and diarrhea over 24-hour period, gastrointestinal discomfort, headache, fever.