title: Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in environmental soil and vegetables.
abstract: Cryptosporidium parvum is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that causes cryptosporidial enteritis. Numerous outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis have been reported worldwide. Cryptosporidium is transmitted to hosts via consumption of contaminated water and food but also by direct contact with contaminated soil or infected hosts. The present study investigated farm soil collected from 34 locations along the western Korean peninsula and 24 vegetables purchased from local grocery markets in Seoul. The soil and vegetable samples were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to estimate the risk of infection. Eleven of 34 locations (32.4%) and 3 of 24 vegetable samples (12.5%) were contaminated with Cryptosporidium parvum, as confirmed by TaqI enzyme digestion of qPCR products and DNA sequencing. It is suggested that Cryptosporidium infection can be mediated via farm soil and vegetables. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce contamination of this organism in view of public health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology & Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Semie
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2838-2015
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine & Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungjin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2342-344X
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine & Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sejoung
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6847-1368
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Woo-Yoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0329-5046
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine & Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seobo
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7884-4754
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine & Research Institute of Medical Science, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Ran
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2695-2854
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology; D016785:Cryptosporidium parvum / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D004751:Enteritis / Q000469:parasitology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012987:Soil / Q000469:parasitology*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D012987:Soil
keywords: Cryptosporidium parvum; Soil; Vegetables