title: Time and temperature effects on the viability and infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in chlorinated tap water.
abstract: The authors compared the viability and infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in chlorinated tap water at various storage durations (i.e., 2 wk, 4 wk, 6 wk, or 8 wk) and at 2 cool temperatures (i.e., 10 degrees C and 4 degrees C), using in vitro (excystation) and in vivo (suckling mouse) methods. After 8 wk, mean oocyst excystation decreased to 33.4% and 26.7% at 10 degrees C and 4 degrees C, respectively. Suckling mice infectivity was higher after storage at 10 degrees C than after storage at 4 degrees C. These data suggest that Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts can survive and remain infectious for 8 wk in cool chlorinated tap water.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine-Pharmacy, Rouen, France.
authors.forename: Xunde
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brasseur
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agnamey
authors.forename: Jean Jacques
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ballet
authors.forename: Chu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clemenceau
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001681:Biological Assay; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D033661:Oocysts; D013534:Survival; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014881:Water Supply