The Bioactivity Of Commiphora Swynnertonii Resin Extracts Against Helminths Eggs/Larvae From Low Quality Water And Vegetables In Morogoro Municipality

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted on urban vegetable farming sites at Mzumbe, Mafisa and Fungafunga in Morogoro municipality-Tanzania. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Commiphora swynnertonii resin extract against helminths eggs/larvae isolated from low quality water and vegetables at Mzumbe, Mafisa and Fungafunga in Morogoro municipality. A total of 90 vegetable samples and 70 water samples (30 treated, 30 river water and 10 untreated) were collected from the study areas to assess their contamination level with helminth eggs using Baelinger techniques. Isolation, identification and quantification of helminths eggs present in low quality water and irrigated vegetables were carried out and the effect of C. swynnertonii resin on hatchability of helminth eggs and survival of helminth larvae was assessed. The study showed that untreated water samples (from anaerobic ponds of both study sites) were positive of Ascaris and Strongyle eggs. Treated water samples (effluents), river water and vegetable samples were all negative of helminth eggs. Results for the in vitro test of C.swynnertonii resin extract against helminths eggs/larvae indicated that the resin extract was very effective in higher concentrations (25, 50, 70 and 100 %V/V) in inhibiting the hatching of Strongyle eggs, Ascaridia galli eggs and caused death of larvae of Haemonchus spp, Trichostrongylus spp, Oesophagostomum spp and Strongyloides spp. It is recommended that further studies be done on the effect of resin on other pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and protozoa in effluents used for irrigation in the study areas. Studies on the possibility of making products from the plant extracts to be used for controlling wide range of water pathogens are also recommended.