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A Modified EPA Method 1623 that Uses Tangential Flow Hollow-fiber Ultrafiltration and Heat Dissociation Steps to Detect Waterborne Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp.
12:11

A Modified EPA Method 1623 that Uses Tangential Flow Hollow-fiber Ultrafiltration and Heat Dissociation Steps to Detect Waterborne Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp.

Published on: July 9, 2012

Detection of Microsporidia, cryptosporidia and Giardia in swimming pools: a one-year prospective study

Sandra Fournier1, S Dubrou, O Liguory

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Saint Louis Hospital, 1 avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010, Paris, France. sandra.fournier@sls.ap-hop-paris.fr

FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology
|July 12, 2002
PubMed

Insights

This study found low contamination of French swimming pools by microsporidia, cryptosporidia, and giardia. The findings highlight the effectiveness of current water treatment methods in preventing parasite spread.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Swimming pools can be potential reservoirs for waterborne pathogens.
  • Microsporidia, Cryptosporidia, and Giardia are protozoan parasites that can cause gastrointestinal illness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the contamination rates of microsporidia, cryptosporidia, and giardia in swimming pool water.
  • To assess the effectiveness of water treatment procedures in French swimming pools.

Main Methods:

  • Collected sequential water samples from six Parisian swimming pools over one year.
  • Analyzed 48 samples using filtration, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for microsporidia, and immunofluorescence staining for cryptosporidia and giardia.

Main Results:

  • One sample tested positive for microsporidia, identified as a species close to Endoreticulatus schubergi.
  • One sample tested positive for cryptosporidia; no samples were positive for giardia.
  • Overall contamination levels for these parasites were low.

Conclusions:

  • French swimming pool water shows a low level of contamination by microsporidia, cryptosporidia, and giardia.
  • Current filtration and disinfection procedures in French swimming pools appear effective in controlling these parasites.

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