Analyses physico-chimiques et bactériologiques des eaux domestiques pendant une épidémie de Choléra à Lubumbashi, République Démocratique du Congo

Abstract

Introduction: The lack of drinking water requires the population to source water from available sources. This predisposes this population to waterborne diseases. Objective: To determine the physico-chemical parameters and to evaluate the contamination of domestic water by Vibrio cholerae and other bacteria. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study, conducted in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, from March to October 2023. Four hundred samples of water were collected from developed wells, undeveloped wells, artisanal wells (Bishimpo) and the Water Distribution Board (Régideso). The study determined temperature, hydrogen potential, electrical conductivity and dissolved solids of collected samples. Bacteriological analysis looked for bacteria in selective culture media. Results: The water is alkaline, the dissolved solids levels are less than 575mg/ml, the median temperature (min-max) is 25°C (23-29°C), and the conductivity is greater than 1000 μs/cm. Contamination rate was estimated at 52%. Salmonella typhi, Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli are predominant. Artisanal and undeveloped wells are more contaminated than others. No Vibrio cholerae was identified. Conclusion: A variety of bacteria other than Vibrio cholerae were found in domestic water sources analyzed during the 2023 Cholera outbreak in Lubumbashi. The absence of Vibrio cholerae would be the proof that the spread of the epidemic was not due to the consumption of water from domestic sources. The promotion of the use of water from developed wells and Regideso, as well as the systematic prior decontamination of water from other sources are strongly recommended. A concomitant clinical and environmental study of Vibrio cholerae strains would bring further evidence for the adaptation of the control strategies