PREVALENCE OF Salmonella spp. IN WATER SOURCES OF SISTAN: A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

This study was aimed to survey the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in water sources of Sistan and Baluchistan Province, Iran. Total 100 samples were collected from different sites and divided on the basis of potability, geographic location, accessibility, consumption and water flow types. Protocols issued by Institute of Standards and Industrial Research of Iran were used to detect Salmonella spp. Results of study revealed that 74.6% water sources shows the presence of Salmonella spp. Among studied sources, only one sample of potable water was contaminated with Salmonella spp. The highest contamination was reported from still water and it was significantly different that the pipe water (p<0.05). The highest contamination among non-potable water was reported from Jazinak compared to other regions. Further, it was reported that non-potable water is mostly used for non-agricultural consumption and it was found to be more polluted than water used for irrigation (p<0.05). The highest contamination with Salmonella was reported in ponds water (p<0.05). Non-potable water collected from east region of Sistan was reported more polluted than the west region. Contamination of non-potable water resources in the study area was high. Potable water, totally, indicates the proper function of the Salmonella treatment plan of water refinery of Sistan. Non-potable water of study area is polluted. Identification of Salmonella serotype and antibiotic susceptibility testing serve as indicators to define the accurate level of contamination.