Detection of Infectious Cryptosporidium Parvum Oocysts in Environmental Water Samples

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a study on the detection of infectious Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in environmental water samples. The detection of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in environmental water samples and the determination of oocyst infectivity are imperative issues for the water industry. An integrated Cell Culture Polymerase Chain Reaction (CC-PCR) method has been developed recently for the detection and molecular genotyping of infectious waterborne C. parvum . The CC-PCR method includes water sample concentration by filtration and purification of oocysts using Immunomagnetic Separation (IMS). In contrast, the CC-PCR method uses in vitro human enterocyte (HCT-8) cell culture and PCR detection of C. parvum infected cells to detect only infectious oocysts rather than microscopy to detect all oocysts. DNA sequence analysis of the CC-PCR products allows the genotype identification of the C. parvum isolates and the determination of the likely sources of the oocysts. Thus, the infectivity determination and genotyping data generated using the CC-PCR method may allow more accurate risk assessment as well as characterization of source and drinking water. The goal of this chapter is to provide an overview of the CC-PCR method and discussion of its application in various studies for the detection of naturally occurring infectious C.parvum in water.