human [1]. For instance, about 30 million Americans per year are affected by a
gastrointestinal illness because of the contaminated drinking water [12, 13]. Some of
the harmful microorganisms which are present in the water and its effect on health
are summarized in Table 1 [1, 14–17]. The prevention of waterborne infection by
such microorganism is of supreme importance.
Microsporidia and Helicobacter pylori are emerging pathogens which could be
present in drinking water [18]. These pathogens are mostly dangerous because it can
cause chronic level diseases and even lead to cancer [19, 20]. Microsporidia are
Table 1 Microorganisms and its health problems.
S. No. Microorganisms
Health problems
I.
Bacteria
1.
Escherichia coli
Hemolytic uremic syndrome, nausea, vomiting, severe bloody
diarrhea, and abdominal cramps
2.
Salmonella typhi
Typhoid and gastrointestinal problems
3.
Legionella
pneumophila
Legionnaires disease
4.
Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
5.
Vibrio cholera
Cholera and gastrointestinal problems
6.
Shigella spp.
Diarrhea and gastrointestinal problems
7.
Campylobacter
jejuni
Enteritis – cramping, diarrhea, fever, and malaise
8.
Salmonella
enteritidis
Severe diarrhea
9.
Salmonella
choleraesuis
Severe diarrhea
II.
Viruses
10.
Adenoviruses
Bronchitis, pneumonia, infections in the respiratory, and intestinal
tract
11.
Rotaviruses
Diarrheal disease for infants and young children
12.
Astroviruses
Diarrhea to encephalitis
13.
Enteroviruses
Infect the central nervous system
14.
Noroviruses
Gastroenteritis
15.
Hepatitis A virus
Dark urine, jaundice, stomach pain, fever, and fatigue
16.
Hepatitis E virus
Liver disease
17.
Sapoviruses
Stomach flu
III.
Protozoa
18.
Cryptosporidium
parvum
Severe painful diarrhea, stomach cramps and gastrointestinal
problems
19.
Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasmosis
20.
Giardia lamblia
Giardiasis
21.
Dracunculus
medinensis
Guinea worm disease
22.
Entamoeba
histolytica
Amebiasis – amebic dysentery
228
E. Thangaraju and R. Muthuraj