SANITATION
WASTEWATER BIOFILMS IN MOSQUITO BIOCYCLE SUPPORT
MECHANISM
INTRODUCTION
The indiscriminate discharge of wastewater into receiving environment
is a major cause of threat in public health. This practice is a common
phenomenon in most African Countries and other countries around the
world. The status or quality of public health is determined by the
existence of proper and effective communication and regulation as
regards handling and control of wastewater and other classes of waste.
Liquid waste forms amongst other nature of waste is a good medium for
growth and proliferation of vectors of parasites and other pathogenic
microorganisms, known to cause harm to man and the environment.
All conditions being optimal, the survival of pathogenic organisms,
vectors and other harmful life forms to human health is known to be at a
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the biocycle of these
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availability of optimal biophysico-chemical factors, known to enhance
growth and proliferation of organisms. One very important organism is
the Plasmodium parasite carried by the female anopheles mosquito.
Other than this, other well known and researched organism are the
Bacteria, Viruses, Fungi, Actinomycetes, Helminthes and the parasites.
The nature of the above listed organisms are such that they require
liquid medium to survive, most especially in transfer of nutrient and
other growth components including free ions. Fluid with relatively
higher nutrient value enhances the growth and excessive division of
organisms though some organisms require lower nutrient value to still
perform same level of activity as the former.
WASTEWATER
Wastewater is considered a good nutrient broth for growth and
selective/differential isolation of microorganisms if properly used. The
components of a typical wastewater may not be ascertained, but it is
considered to contain nutrient, water, microorganism, toxic component,
debris etc. Fresh wastewater differs in composition when compared to
aged wastewater. In addition to the components listed earlier, aged
wastewater also contains enzymes and diverse microbial population
and community. This is a clear ground for synergism in microbial
community/population and catabolism of nutrient and debris in the
presence of water.
Considering the sources of wastewater, it is possible to determine the
components of wastewater. This can also inform the appropriate
treatment protocol to be designed for the each class of wastewater if
required. Untreated wastewater allowed to free enter into the
environment forms a temporary pond, which can remain for as long as
the water remains undisturbed. The non disturbance of the accumulated
water is a major physical factor that determines the maximal growth and
survival of inhabiting organisms. Systems such as this are recharged by
precipitation or repeated disposal into same system over time. Agitation
of the accumulated water system or continuous flow of same system
can reduce the survival rate of inhabiting organisms as well as the
introduction of toxic/cidal chemical.
Satisfying all growth factors, microbial cells can utilize the existing nutrient
in the wastewater to multiply and form numerous cells, including the
formation of films composed of community and population of cells both in
linear and stratum format. This becomes the basis of the eventual
increase in surface tension of the water system to allow for the landing of
mosquitoes and other flying insects. This also makes egg laying, egg
nursing and nurturing very easy, achievable and successful.
TRANSFORMATION IN WASTEWATER
Transformation in wastewater occurs in the physical, chemical and
biological characteristics. Wastewater system flow ability or stagnancy
2007also contributes to the nature and speedResearch
of transformation of wastewater
& Environomics
characteristics. As earlier mentioned, disturbance of wastewater does not
allow steady and prolonged transformation, but permits slow
transformation because of the interruption from other environmental
factors and components. For effective surface skating on wastewater,
there is a need to have a surface tension, in the form a thin film layer
strong enough to hold micro-weights like mosquitoes and other insects. In
other words, the uptrust from the thin film is normally good enough to
withstand the maximum weight of any landing object. Mosquitoes, for
example are practically observed to exist in there millions without sinking,
due to the presence of surface thin films. This has never being the events
of interest, but it has been a general practice to fumigate rooms and
enclosures inhabited by human, while the sources remain undisturbed.
The transformation of accumulated wastewater in an environment
depends on the existence of microbial community and population. The
presence of nutrient in the accumulated wastewater allows for growth of
microbial cells. The microbial community varies in species, with the
pioneers cells starting up the community. They are known to commence
the catabolic actions to set loose the complex and intact nutrient material.
This breakdown results in the formation of loosed single chemical nutrients
which can be assimilated by other forms of microbial cells. Other than the
loosed nutrients, metabolic end products from the enzymatic breakdown
can also serve as nutrients for other cells in the system, thereby changing
the species dominating the community. This can be different in conditions
where there multi-enzyme producers, known to secret more than one type
of enzyme in a complex ecosystem.
Also known are ‘gel producers’ or what is known as capsule producers,
which are the major partakers in the formation of thin films; Biofilms.
Though research has shown that biofilm formation can be traced to the
component of the nutrient in which microbial cells are subjected to; Sugar
component. Phytoplanktons are also observed to contribute to the nutrient
supply system in such ecosystem. The photosynthetic ability of
phytoplankton makes it possible for them to produce carbohydrate
components, which can be released into the ecosystem, when the cell
decays. This activity can be delayed or stopped when the amount of light
getting into the water system is reduced towards zero. This is determined
by the volume of opaque debris and thin film thickness. In some cases,
algal mats (algal bloom) are formed as a result of ‘euthrification’.
In the absence of algal mats, thin films are maintained in the system,
which can be a safety coat to avoid easy predation from higher
organisms. Considering that an accumulated wastewater is a batch
system, it will obey the ‘one step growth curve’ principle of microbial life
cycle. Below are the three major characteristics and there relevance in
wastewater transformation processes.
BIOFILM AS SUPPORT MECHANISM
Biofilms are basically carbohydrate complexes formed from the activity of
capsule producing cells. When this is done over time, they form slimy and
glossy layer that advances laterally in both vertical and horizontal layers.
This materials when formed aids easy attachment to water surface, giving
the attaching organism a better chance of survival.

Physical: The existence of Biofilms is rather an advantage to mosquito survival. It is

The major physical transformation in accumulated wastewater is the
formation of thin film (biofilm) by microorganisms. In most cases where
there are solid surfaces in the system, microbes also colonize the
surfaces, forming glossy and slimy coats on the surface. This process
takes some time to achieve. Literatures have revealed that the quantity
of sugars determine the possibility of capsule formation, since the major
component of the capsule is carbohydrate. The thickness and the time
taken for the formation of the film depend on the nutrient availability and
relative population of film producers. Thin films are both useful and
dangerous. Other than creating better landing grounds for landing, they
can also cause suffocation of organisms as a result of oxygen reduction
from the water atmosphere interphase.
Chemical:
The initial stage in the chemical component of the wastewater may be
described as complex chemical environment, where nutrients are in
their intact and unassimilated form. The complex nutrient form
undergoes an enzyme mediated catabolism, which results in the
formation of simple and easy to assimilate forms. These simple nutrient
forms are made available for further utilization by some microbial cell for
the formation of metabolites which are further utilized by another
community of microorganisms. This string of events brings about the
synergistic relationship in the ecosystem. It is registered that for each
organism involve in this relationship, a simple batch cycle is achieved,
after which a new set of organisms proliferate for the utilization of the
released metabolites by a previously dominating organisms. This chain
succession occurs until the nutrient value of the system depletes or the
ecosystem is taken over by larger organisms, known to feed on cells
and vectors. The climax in the formation process of the films resumes
brings about the formation of breeding ground for reproduction of
mosquitoes for more plasmodium nursing and transfer.
Biological:
The only biological factor is the existence of other higher organism
which determines the survival of the cells and the vectors. Once there is
a sign of life in the ecosystem, here is bound to be a natural formation
of food chain, which is changing paradigm. Cells can survive in the
absence of pressure, predation and the presence of toxic/poisonous
substances. The presence of phytoplankton attracts the presence of
insects. The attraction of insects brings about the existence of other
larger organisms. This natural process continues till stability is formed.
Stability of the ecosystem can also be achieved when there is an
existence of a non-toxin producing organism or poisonous metabolite
production. Once there is a balance and good relationship in the types
of organisms in the ecosystem and their relative population size in the
system. Many other biological factors can be used, but they all have a
link with either life support or bio-cidal actions on other organisms.
also observed to be a survival and support mechanism for mosquitoes at
various stages of their biocycle. Wastewater is good medium for the
formation of biofilms. The composition of the wastewater determines the
species of organism to colonise the system. It also determines the nature
of synergism and the corresponding product of metabolism. This can be
described as a selective or differential medium for the growth and
proliferation of cells. This eventually results in the formation of Biofilms,
which at the end of the process act as support and survival mechanism for
mosquitoes.
This is a clear relationship between the wastewater characteristics and the
spread of plasmodium ad increase cases of malaria. Public health is a
major component that requires extensive attention. Problems and risk
associated with public health can be easily tackled with the presence of an
elimination strategy, which may not necessarily be direct, but most time
indirect. Most indirect strategies end up alleviating the problems in
synergy. This is why wastewater should be given due attention with best
management practice in place.
WAY FORWARD
Mosquitoes can be eliminated if proper wastewater management system
is put in place. There is a need to have in place a functional and
operational wastewater treatment plant in various communities to tackle
the risk and cushion the negative impacts associated with the mis –
management of wastewater.
Existing strategy that are put in place, will support the ‘Roll Back Malaria’
program, which many countries are signatory to. Other than this program,
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which emphasises on health,
disease spread and environmental sustainability is also inline with proper
and effective wastewater management plan. Once these plans are
adopted, it will amend the sanitation problems in our communities. It is
absolute that to achieve these plans, proper communication and regulation
strategy should be perfected.

MOSQUITO BIOCYCLE
Mosquitoes are best described as ‘flying syringes’ and are populated in
the tropics. It is the major vector of plasmodium, the causative organism
for malaria. In Africa, malaria remains tone of the killer infection, which
is known to cause most of mother and child mortality cases. The
existence of malaria bring about other conditions, such as fever, PETER ANIEDIABASI JOHN
nausea, lost of appetite, aches and pains amongst other conditions. The CHIEF MANAGING CONSULTANT
survival rate of mosquitoes depends on the environmental conditions
such as availability of stagnant water. The survival of plasmodium
depends on the survival of mosquitoes. This relationship is a
determining factor to spread of malaria.

Female mosquitoes carry premature and unfertilized eggs in their

cocoon, incubating them for fertilization and onward storage in a
convenient and undisturbed ecosystem for growth and transformation.
Eggs simply transforms into pupae and pupae to larvae, which finally
transforms into fully matured mosquito. This cycle is time dependent
and be delayed, terminated or enhanced, depending on the
environmental condition or factors. At an optimal condition, the bio-
forms in the cycle attach itself to the surface film, thereby remaining
afloat for proximity to respiratory gases and food. The number of the
egg layers will eventually determine the expected population of the
resulting mosquitoes after all.
 RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UNIT
ECOLEGAL SERVICES NIGERIA LIMITED
PORT HARCOURT - NIGERIA.

Email: ecolegal.ng@gmail.com
peanijo@yahoo.com

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