Full Description

Human infections by parasitic protozoa, via water, are a growing concern. Sporulating parasitic protozoa like Cyclospora cayetanensis, an important emerging pathogen, are of great pulbic health significance. It is, therefore, important to determine if these protozoa are present in drinking and irrigation water sources. Most outbreaks of this infection appear to have originated through contaminated irrigation water. Present testing methods for Cyclospora cayetanensis are inefficient and not specific enough to be of practical use to water treatment professionals. Water was collected from six sites within the Santa Ana River Watershed as well as one site in the San Diego Creek Watershed. These sites include those affected by run-off from agricultural, livestock, urban and pristine areas. Each month, over a period of a year, four 10-liter samples were taken from each site. Samples were flocculated with calcium carbonate and the precipitant centrifuged. The resultant pellets were digested and inhibitors removed. PCR, using available primers from C. cayetanensis, were employed to screen the samples. These primers are not specific; they will cross-react with various Eimeria species as well as other Cyclospora species. Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) was employed to distinguish organisms in positive samples. Results of the first year of sampling are presented. Includes 16 references, tables, figures.

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Edition: Vol. - No. Published: 01/01/1999File Size: 1 file , 340 KB