Zoonotic potential of the parasites of the Khuman Wadi: Environmental and health repercussions in Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, Morocco

The Oued Khoumane river, which flows through the city of Moulay Idriss Zerhoun, receives discharges of raw wastewater, posing a risk to public health and the environment. To assess the extent of intestinal parasitosis, 72 water samples were collected monthly in 2022 from six sites.Analyses, conducted using a concentration technique (WHO method) for helminth eggs and MIF staining for protozoan cysts, revealed significant and diverse parasitic contamination. A total of 17 parasite genera were identified, with a predominance of protozoa (50.5%), followed by nematodes (29.8%), cestodes (16.2%), and trematodes (3.5%). This study highlights an alarming parasitic load, of both human and animal origin, which poses a direct threat to the health of populations using this water and degrades the aquatic ecosystem. It underscores the urgent need to implement preventive and corrective measures.