In:
Canadian Journal of Microbiology, Canadian Science Publishing, Vol. 53, No. 9 ( 2007-09), p. 1101-1105
Abstract:
The prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms in seawater can result in waterborne and food borne outbreaks. This study was performed to determine the effect of sunlight and salinity on the die-off of Cryptosporidium parvum . Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, Escherichia coli , and MS2 coliphage were seeded into tap water and seawater samples and then exposed to sunlight. The die-off of C. parvum in seawater, as measured by infectivity, was greater under sunlight (–3.08 log 10 ) than under dark conditions (–1.31 log 10 ). While, no significant difference was recorded in the die-off of C. parvum, under dark conditions, in tap water as compared to seawater (P 〈 0.05), indicating that the synergistic effect of salinity and sunlight was responsible for the enhanced die-off in seawater. The die-off of MS2 coliphage and E. coli was greater than that observed for C. parvum under all tested conditions. This indicates that these microorganisms cannot serve as indicators for the presence of C. parvum oocysts in seawaters. The results of the study suggest that C. parvum can persist as infectious oocysts for a long time in seawater and can thus pose a serious hazard by direct and indirect contact with humans.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0008-4166
,
1480-3275
Language:
English
Publisher:
Canadian Science Publishing
Publication Date:
2007
detail.hit.zdb_id:
280534-0
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1481972-7
SSG:
12
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