Date of Publication

7-2025

Document Type

Bachelor's Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Biology major in Medical Biology

Subject Categories

Public Health | Water Resource Management

College

College of Science

Department/Unit

Biology

Thesis Advisor

Priscilla Hope P. Swann

Defense Panel Chair

Bridget C. Arellano

Defense Panel Member

Jessica Joyce R. De Guia
Dennis A. Dolojan

Abstract (English)

This study investigated the presence of free-living amoebae (FLA) in tap water sources within Paradise Heights, Barangay 128, Tondo, Manila, a densely populated urban community with compromised sanitation and aging water infrastructure. Free-living amoebae such as Acanthamoeba spp., Naegleria spp., Entamoeba spp., and Balamuthia mandrillaris are known to cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in humans. The general problem of the study is that there is an insufficient amount of local public health data regarding the presence of free-living amoebae in urban water systems in the Philippines, due to the limited existing scientific investigations on FLA. The purpose of the study was to determine whether these amoebae are present in the tap water of a vulnerable urban community and to examine environmental conditions that could support their prevalence and distribution. A total of 48 tap water samples were collected from 16 residential buildings and analyzed through direct microscopy and culture techniques using non-nutrient agar plates seeded with Escherichia coli. The physicochemical parameters, including pH and temperature, were also measured on-site. Microscopic and culture analyses revealed no detectable trophozoites, cysts, or signs of FLA growth in any of the samples. The water samples exhibited neutral pH and moderate temperatures that were not particularly favorable for FLA proliferation. These findings indicate that the tap water in Paradise Heights showed no signs of FLA contamination during the sampling period. However, the study acknowledges that the absence of molecular diagnostic tools and the limited duration of sampling may have affected detection sensitivity. It is recommended that future studies incorporate more advanced methods such as PCR and conduct sampling across different timeframes to account for potential seasonal variation. The results highlight the importance of continuous water quality monitoring to safeguard public health in underserved communities.

Abstract Format

html

Abstract (Filipino)

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Abstract Format

html

Language

English

Format

Electronic

Keywords

Amoeba--Philippines--Manila; Drinking water—Contamination--Philippines--Manila; Urban sanitation-Philippines--Manila; Public health-Philippines--Manila

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Embargo Period

8-14-2025

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