title: Cryptosporidium in small water systems in Puerto Rico: a pilot study.
abstract: A pilot study was undertaken to investigate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium in four very small drinking water systems supplying communities in rural Puerto Rico. Water samples (40 L) were collected and oocysts were concentrated by calcium carbonate flocculation, recovered by immunomagnetic separation and detected by immunofluorescence microscopy. Cryptosporidium oocysts were identified in all four systems. This is the first report of evidence of the potential public health risk from this chlorine-resistant pathogen in Puerto Rican small water systems. Further work is warranted to fully assess the health risks that Cryptosporidium and other protozoa pose to populations served by community-managed small drinking water systems.
authors: Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, Public Health Wales Microbiology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, SA2 8QA, UK.
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Robinson
authors: Gabriella & Paul Rosenbaum Foundation, Bryn Mawr, PA, USA.
authors: Harvey A
authors: HA
authors: Minnigh
authors: School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK.
authors: Paul R
authors: PR
authors: Hunter
authors: Cryptosporidium Reference Unit, Public Health Wales Microbiology, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, SA2 8QA, UK.
authors: Rachel M
authors: RM
authors: Chalmers
authors: Centro de Educación, Conservación e Interpretación Ambiental, Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, San Germán, PR 00683, Puerto Rico E-mail: gramirez@inter.edu.
authors: Graciela I
authors: GI
authors: Ramírez Toro
mesh_terms: D002119:Calcium Carbonate; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005427:Flocculation; D060587:Groundwater / Q000469:parasitology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011647:Puerto Rico; D018570:Risk Assessment; D060753:Water Quality; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D002119:Calcium Carbonate