title: Human waterborne parasites in zebra mussels ( Dreissena polymorpha) from the Shannon River drainage area, Ireland.
abstract: Zebra mussels ( Dreissena polymorpha) from throughout the Shannon River drainage area in Ireland were tested for the anthropozoonotic waterborne parasites Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, E. hellem, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, by the multiplexed combined direct immunofluorescent antibody and fluorescent in situ hybridization method, and PCR. Parasite transmission stages were found at 75% of sites, with the highest mean concentration of 16, nine, and eight C. parvum oocysts, G. lamblia cysts, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis spores/mussel, respectively. On average eight Enterocytozoon bieneusi spores/mussel were recovered at any selected site. Approximately 80% of all parasites were viable and thus capable of initiating human infection. The Shannon River is polluted with serious emerging human waterborne pathogens including C. parvum, against which no therapy exists. Zebra mussels can recover and concentrate environmentally derived pathogens and can be used for the sanitary assessment of water quality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. tgraczyk@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Thaddeus K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Graczyk
authors.forename: David Bruce
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Conn
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lucy
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Minchin
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tamang
authors.forename: Lacy N S
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.forename: Alexandre J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: DaSilva
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000469:parasitology*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016819:Encephalitozoon / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021862:Enterocytozoon / Q000302:isolation & purification; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007494:Ireland; D010270:Parasite Egg Count; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D045483:Rivers