Abstract:
Diarrheal diseases are an important public health concern, predominantly in peri-urban
areas where access to safe drinking water and passable sanitation is often insufficient.
This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of diarrhea in Shahdara, a peri-urban area
of Islamabad, through a cross-sectional community household survey. The research
involved collecting drinking water samples from households utilizing various water
sources, including private water supply, municipal water supply, well water, spring
water, and bore water. Fecal samples from people consuming these water sources were
also collected to evaluate the microbial presence linked with diarrheal diseases.
Microbial analysis of water samples was performed to evaluate bacterial contamination,
focusing on the presence of Escherichia coli, Shigella, and Salmonella—pathogens
commonly concerned in waterborne diarrhea. Alongside, fecal samples underwent
microbial analysis, DNA extraction, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)
to identify bacterial loads. Advanced metagenomic analysis was employed to provide
an inclusive view of the microbial diversity in the fecal samples. The conclusions of
this study aim to explicate the relationship between water source contamination and the
prevalence of diarrhea in Shahdara. By combining microbial and metagenomic
approaches, the research provides valuable insights into the pathogenic profiles in both
water and human samples, contributing to evidence-based strategies for refining water
quality and reducing diarrheal diseases in peri-urban settings
