Drinking water quality of various sources in Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat and Swat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan

Abstract The present study involves the chemical and bacteriological analysis of water from different sources i.e., bore, wells, bottle, and tap, from Peshawar, Mardan, Swat and Kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan. From each district, 50 water samples (10 samples from each source), regardless of urban and rural status, were collected from these sources and analysed for sulphates, nitrates, nitrites, chlorides, total soluble solids and coliforms (E. coli). Results indicated that majority of the water sources had unacceptable E. coli count i.e.> 34 CFU/100mL. E. coli positive samples were high in Mardan District, followed by Kohat, Swat and Peshawar district. Besides this, the some water sources were also chemically contaminated by different inorganic fertilizers (nitrates/nitrites of sodium, potassium) but under safe levels whereas agricultural and industrial wastes (chloride and sulphate compounds) were in unsafe range. Among all districts, the water quality was found comparatively more deteriorated in Kohat and Mardan districts than Peshawar and Swat districts. Such chemically and bacteriologically unfit water sources for drinking and can cause human health problems.

Resumo O presente estudo envolve a análise química e bacteriológica de água de diferentes fontes, ou seja, furo, poços, garrafa e torneira, dos distritos de Peshawar, Mardan, Swat e Kohat da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Paquistão. De cada distrito, 50 amostras de água (10 amostras de cada fonte), independentemente do status urbano e rural, foram coletadas dessas fontes e analisadas para sulfatos, nitratos, nitritos, cloretos, sólidos solúveis totais e coliformes (E. coli). Os resultados indicaram que a maioria das fontes de água tinha uma contagem inaceitável de E. coli, ou seja, > 34 UFC / 100 mL. As amostras positivas para E. coli foram elevadas no distrito de Mardan, seguido por Kohat, Swat e distrito de Peshawar. Além disso, algumas fontes de água também foram contaminadas quimicamente por diferentes fertilizantes inorgânicos (nitratos/nitritos de sódio, potássio), mas em níveis seguros, enquanto os resíduos agrícolas e industriais (compostos de cloreto e sulfato) estavam em níveis inseguros. Entre todos os distritos, a qualidade da água foi considerada comparativamente mais deteriorada nos distritos de Kohat e Mardan do que nos distritos de Peshawar e Swat. Essas fontes de água química e bacteriologicamente impróprias para beber podem causar problemas à saúde humana.

Drinking water quality of various sources in Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat and Swat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan / Qualidade de água potável de váris fontes dos distritos de Peshawar, Mardan, Kohat e Swat da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Paquistão

Abstract The present study involves the chemical and bacteriological analysis of water from different sources i.e., bore, wells, bottle, and tap, from Peshawar, Mardan, Swat and Kohat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan. From each district, 50 water samples (10 samples from each source), regardless of urban and rural status, were collected from these sources and analysed for sulphates, nitrates, nitrites, chlorides, total soluble solids and coliforms (E. coli). Results indicated that majority of the water sources had unacceptable E. coli count i.e.> 34 CFU/100mL. E. coli positive samples were high in Mardan District, followed by Kohat, Swat and Peshawar district. Besides this, the some water sources were also chemically contaminated by different inorganic fertilizers (nitrates/nitrites of sodium, potassium) but under safe levels whereas agricultural and industrial wastes (chloride and sulphate compounds) were in unsafe range. Among all districts, the water quality was found comparatively more deteriorated in Kohat and Mardan districts than Peshawar and Swat districts. Such chemically and bacteriologically unfit water sources for drinking and can cause human health problems.

Resumo O presente estudo envolve a análise química e bacteriológica de água de diferentes fontes, ou seja, furo, poços, garrafa e torneira, dos distritos de Peshawar, Mardan, Swat e Kohat da província de Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Paquistão. De cada distrito, 50 amostras de água (10 amostras de cada fonte), independentemente do status urbano e rural, foram coletadas dessas fontes e analisadas para sulfatos, nitratos, nitritos, cloretos, sólidos solúveis totais e coliformes (E. coli). Os resultados indicaram que a maioria das fontes de água tinha uma contagem inaceitável de E. coli, ou seja, > 34 UFC / 100 mL. As amostras positivas para E. coli foram elevadas no distrito de Mardan, seguido por Kohat, Swat e distrito de Peshawar. Além disso, algumas fontes de água também foram contaminadas quimicamente por diferentes fertilizantes inorgânicos (nitratos/nitritos de sódio, potássio), mas em níveis seguros, enquanto os resíduos agrícolas e industriais (compostos de cloreto e sulfato) estavam em níveis inseguros. Entre todos os distritos, a qualidade da água foi considerada comparativamente mais deteriorada nos distritos de Kohat e Mardan do que nos distritos de Peshawar e Swat. Essas fontes de água química e bacteriologicamente impróprias para beber podem causar problemas à saúde humana.

Morpometric and molecular characterization of Surguli goat through CO1 gene in district Kohat.

The present study was designed with the aim to study morphometric characterization as well as phylogeny and diversity of the local Surguli goat at their breeding tract district Kohat through mitochondrial DNA region, i.e., Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit One (CO1) gene. Morphometric data and blood samples were collected from thirty (30) pure goats. Morphometric analysis showed that sex had significant effect (p < 0.05) on body weight, body length, hearth girth and horn length while no significant effect (p > 0.05) was observed for other characteristics. The results also indicated that age had significant effect (p < 0.05) on height at rump, ear length, horn length and tail length while no significant effect (p > 0.05) was observed for other characteristics. The phylogenetic analysis through CO1 nucleotide sequences within nucleotide range 1-767 showed nine polymorphic sites segregating into eight haplotypes. The mean intraspecific diversity and mean interspecific diversity were calculated as 0.23 and 2.36%, respectively. Phylogenetic tree revealed that Capra Ibex and native Surguli goat have common ancestors. The morphometric and molecular results obtained from the present study can be exploited as a selection tool for breeding and overall improvement.

Molecular Heterogeneity of ß-Thalassemia in the Kohat Region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan.

The present study was intended to report the incidence of the most frequently occurring ß-thalassemia (ß-thal) mutations in the Kohat region [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province, Pakistan], their inheritance pattern in patients, and consanguinity in the parents. Moreover, this study could provide valuable information regarding thalassemia diagnoses such as prenatal diagnosis (PND), genetic counseling and carrier screening for controlling the affected births in the population. During this study, 160 peripheral blood samples of affected patients, their parents and siblings were collected from 25 discrete families having at least one child needing regular blood transfusions from different areas of the Kohat region. ß-Thalassemia mutations found in the population were screened via the amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR). A total of 320 alleles was evaluated for the presence of six ß-thal mutations. Of these six ß-thal mutations, the frameshift codons (FSC) 8/9 (+G) (HBB: c.27_28insG) was found to be the most frequent in the studied population, and more interestingly, followed by IVS-I-5 (G>C) (HBB: c.92+5G>C) and FSC 5 (-CT) (HBB: c.17_18delCT). The findings of the present study show differences with previous results from other regions of the Pashtun population, which demarcates the heterogeneity in mutations found in the Pashtun ethnicity. These observations may help in implementing parental meetings about disease recurrence in future, large scale mutation screening and PND for the population of the Kohat region and also the whole Pashtun ethnicity.

Epidemic outbreak of anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis in Kohat District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

An epidemiological and molecular study was carried out for the first time in Kohat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistan from April 2015 to May 2016 to determine the prevalence of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) in local population and Internally Displaced People (IDPs). In 13 different villages, a total of 1359 (out of 26,250 individuals belonging to local population) and 140 (out of 3615 IDPs residing in these villages) cases were recorded and 300 samples were collected. The total prevalence of CL in local population was 5.17% with active lesions and scar prevalence of 3.91% and 1.26% respectively. Similarly a prevalence of 3.86% for CL was recorded in IDPs. Highest number of IDPs having CL active lesions and scars were recorded in villages Sherkot, Surgul, and Jarma and their presence was positively correlated with CL in local population. Age wise prevalence was highest in young children of age group 1-15 years. The microscopic examination showed 64.33% (193/300) positive samples while kinteoplastic PCR showed 84.66% (254/300) positive. For the first time in KP province, 2/784 sandflies trapped from the study villages was found positive for Leishmania by PCR. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism of patients and sandflies samples revealed L. tropica as the prevalent Leishmania species in this district. The results of sequencing and RFLP identified L. tropica in Phlebotomus sergenti. This is the first ever report of molecular identification of L. tropica from sandflies of genus P. sergenti in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. This data can be helpful for health authorities in finding out new CL foci and to plan effective strategies for the provision of health facilities to poor people of this area.

Patient's perceptions about the service quality of public hospitals located at District Kohat.

OBJECTIVE: To determine patients' perception regarding service and quality of healthcare at public-sector institutions. METHODS: The descriptive quantitative study was conducted in Kohat district, Pakistan, between July and December 2014, and focussed on 30 variables to assess the participants' perceptions of the actual healthcare service quality delivered. SERVQUAL instrument was used to measure the reliability and cronbach alpha was calculated to measure the reliability and validity of the instrument. RESULTS: A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed and 157(78.5%) were received back fully filled. Of them, 105(67%) were men and 52(33%) were women.The mean value of Assurance parameter was 3.05±0.88, indicating trust in public hospitals was high as they had experienced and capable doctors. On the other hand, the lowest mean value of 2.61±0.84 was for Empathy, highlighting the fact that public hospitals lacked the ability to handle patients' problem properly, services were not offered in time and they were short of staff. CONCLUSIONS: Public hospitals were largely seen as failing to deliver quality service.