Instituto de Microbiología y Parasitología (IMPA)

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(Proyecto) Waterborne Pathogens of one health significance in the Dominican Republic.
(2026) Modestina Alcántara
Waterborne pathogens and related diseases are a major public health concern worldwide, not only by the morbidity and mortality that they cause, but by the high cost that represents their prevention and treatment. It’s the cause of more than 2.2 million deaths per year and higher cases of illness every day, including diarrhea, gastrointestinal diseases and systematic illness. About 1.4 millions of these deaths are children. There are over 100 different types of bacteria, viruses and protozoa that can be found in contaminated water. Both groundwaters, surface waters and distribution systems may be at risk. Contaminated water drinking water due to inadequate and unsanitary disposal of sewage and excreta continue to pose a threat to the health in many communities in the Caribbean. Important viral, protozoal and nematode waterborne pathogens of One Health significance will be investigated in the fresh water sources around the Dominican Republic. Molecular techniques improve the characterization of these pathogens; however, several disadvantages such as the lack of standardization of protocols and sample processing are still a challenge. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the most commonly used molecular-based methods for detection of waterborne pathogens.