title: Occurrence of Cryptosporidium in a wastewater treatment plant in North Germany.
abstract: Cryptosporidium parvum is one of the most common human parasitic protozoa and is responsible for many waterborne outbreaks in several industrialized countries. The oocyst, which is the infective form, is known to be highly resistant to wastewater treatment procedures and represents a potential hazard to human populations through contaminated raw or treated wastewater. In this investigation, the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in wastewater samples was monitored and removal efficiency was assessed. Treated (effluent) and untreated (influent) wastewater samples were collected seasonally over a period of 2 years. Oocysts were repeatedly detected in influent and effluent samples collected from the treatment plant during all sampling seasons, with a mean concentration of 782 oocysts/L. The seasonal distribution showed that oocysts are predominant during autumn and winter. Molecular analyses via the small (18S) subunit of rRNA amplification and subsequent sequencing with an objective of characterizing the oocysts revealed that Cryptosporidium parvum was the dominant Cryptosporidium parasite present in wastewater.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Wastewater Management and Water Protection, Hamburg University of Technology, Hamburg, Germany. cajonin@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ajonina
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Buzie
authors.forename: Irene U
authors.initials: IU
authors.lastname: Ajonina
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Basner
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reinhardt
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gulyas
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Liebau
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Otterpohl
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000378:metabolism; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000378:metabolism; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005858:Germany; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation; D007220:Industrial Waste; D058889:Molecular Typing; D033661:Oocysts / Q000254:growth & development; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000378:metabolism; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D012722:Sewage / Q000469:parasitology; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater / Q000469:parasitology*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007220:Industrial Waste; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D012337:RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater