title: Rotifers ingest Giardia cysts.
abstract: Seven species of rotifers representing 6 genera, Epiphanes, Plationus, Asplanchna, Philodina species A, Philodina species B. Platyias, and Brachionus, were exposed to Giardia cysts isolated from the feces of experimentally infected holstein calves. Giardia cysts were prestained with a fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated monoclonal antibody and mixed with viable rotifers on 3-well Teflon-coated microscope slides. Organisms were observed with phase-contrast, differential interference contrast, and fluorescence microscopy. Five rotifer species, Epiphanes brachionus, Plationus patulus, Philodina (both A and B), and Platyias quadricornis, ingested varying numbers of cysts, which were retained within the rotifers' bodies throughout the observation period. Rotifer ingestion of Giardia cysts may represent a means of reducing water contamination.
authors.affiliation: Animal and Natural Resources Institute, Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA. jtrout@anri.barc.usda.gov
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Trout
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fayer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005872:Giardia / Q000254:growth & development*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008857:Microscopy, Interference; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D012403:Rotifera / Q000469:parasitology*; D012722:Sewage / Q000469:parasitology; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D014867:Water