The role of free-ranging, captive, and domestic birds of Western Poland in environmental contamination with Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and Giardia lamblia cysts.
As Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia can be disseminated in the environment by avian hosts, a total of 499 fecal dropping from 308 free-ranging, 90 captive, and 101 domestic birds were tested by conventional, immunological, and molecular techniques for these human enteropathogens. Twenty-six (5.2%) tested positive for G. lamblia cysts and 19 (3.8%) for C. parvum oocysts. A bird total of 23 (7.5%) free-ranging, two (2.2%) captive, and one (0.1%) domestic tested positive for cysts, whereas 18 (5.8%) free-ranging, one (1.1%) captive, and zero livestock birds tested positive for oocysts. G. lamblia cysts and C. parvum oocysts were found significantly more frequently in fecal droppings of free-ranging aquatic birds than in birds not normally associated with water. No specimen tested positive for both pathogens simultaneously. Aquatic birds represent an important epidemiologic link in water-associated transmission cycles of Cryptosporidium and Giardia and play a significant role in environmental contamination of aquatic habitats with these anthropozoonotic pathogens.
Majewska
Anna C
AC
Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Faculty Medicine I, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
Graczyk
Thaddeus K
TK
Słodkowicz-Kowalska
Anna
A
Tamang
Leena
L
Jedrzejewski
Szymon
S
Zduniak
Piotr
P
Solarczyk
Piotr
P
Nowosad
Andrzej
A
Nowosad
Piotr
P
D000818:Animals; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D001717:Birds; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D016829:Giardia lamblia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005873:Giardiasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D006801:Humans; D033661:Oocysts / Q000166:cytology; D011044:Poland; D011200:Poultry; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*