Diversity of Fungi in the Public Hand-pump Borehole Water in Onueke, Ezza Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The diversity of fungi in fifteen public hand-pump borehole water in Onueke, Ezza Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria was studied during the dry and wet seasons using standard analytical procedures. The total moulds and yeasts counts were 2-8cfu/ml and 1-5cfu/ml respectively during the dry season and 3-12cfu/ml and 1-4cfu/ml respectively during the wet season. More moulds were isolated from the samples during the wet than the dry season while more yeasts were isolated during the dry than the wet season. The fungi were characterized and identified on the basis of their colonial, microscopic, biochemical and molecular characteristics as Candida albicans, Microsporum canis, Aspergillus fumigatus, Geotrichum candidum, Basidiobolus ranarum, Microsporum audouinii, Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Trichosporon cutaneum. More of the boreholes contained Candida albicans than the other isolates during both seasons. Candida albicans occurred most frequently in the water samples during both seasons while Fonsecaea pedrosoi had the lowest frequency of occurrence in the water samples during both seasons. All the isolates were resistant to Griseofulvin while they exhibited varying degree of resistance and sensitivity to the other antifungal agents used. This study indicated that the borehole water samples examined did not comply with the standard established by regulatory bodies for potable water and therefore must be adequately treated before drinking and use for domestic purposes as these fungi have been reported to cause diseases of humans and animals. Boiling, chlorination, sand filtration and exposure to ultraviolet radiation are recommended.