Occurrence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in the Kau-Ping River and its watershed in southern Taiwan

Giardia and Cryptosporidium are important waterborne parasites. Thirteen water samples and 32 fecal specimens were collected from the Kau-Ping River and its watershed to test for Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts. The detection methods are immunofluorescence assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for water samples and fecal specimens, respectively. Seven out of eight samples collected from raw water samples showed the presence of cysts, while six out of eight raw water samples contained oocysts. Cryptosporidium was present in 40% of the treated water, while Giardia occurred in all of them. Four out of 32 fecal specimens, collected from the hog farming region, tested positive for Giardia, and seven specimens tested positive for Cryptosporidium. Giardia was related only to Cryptosporidium but not to the others.