Eco-Epidemiology and Control of Waterborne Gastroenteritis: A Review

Viral and bacterial pathogens appear to be the causative agents of water-borne gastroenteritis globally. Waterborne gastroenteritis is the primary cause of loss of productivity and morbidity in developed and underdeveloped nations. Lack of extensive epidemiological surveillance and data analysis of viral and bacterial waterborne gastroenteritis is a major hindrance in the control of this disease. The burden of gastroenteritis is highest in the children and immunocompromised persons as compared to the elderly population. Essentially, Rotavirus, Norovirus, Pestivirus, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenese, Yersinia pestis, Clostridium difficile, Vibrio cholerae, Aeromonashydrophila are primary causative organisms of waterborne gastroenteritis globally. This review highlights the current knowledge of waterborne pathogens and their significance, epidemiological factors like worldwide prevalence, hosts, causative agents, associated risk factors, clinical signs and symptoms, conventional as well as molecular diagnostic tools to combat the disease and recent approaches to effective treatments and new innovative methods of controlling these infectious agents that cause gastroenteritis will be discussed.