title: Cryptosporidium oocysts in Bent mussels (Ischadium recurvum) in the Chesapeake Bay.
abstract: Filter-feeding molluscan shellfish can concentrate environmentally derived waterborne pathogens of humans, which can be utilized in the sanitary assessment of water quality. In the present study, oocysts of Cryptosporidium were detected in Bent mussels (Ischadium recurvum) at two Chesapeake Bay sites from which C. parvum-contaminated oysters had previously been collected. Spiking of Cryptosporidium-free blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) tissue with C. parvum oocysts showed a 51.1% recovery rate of oocysts, giving an oocyst detection limit of 19 oocysts/0.7 ml of mussel tissue homogenate. The results indicate that Bent mussels, which are common throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, may prove to be useful as biological indicators of water contamination with Cryptosporidium oocysts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. tgraczyk@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Graczyk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fayer
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Trout
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Farley
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000469:parasitology*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D008396:Maryland; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D014867:Water