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Genotypes of cryptosporidium in Sydney's catchments
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Genotypes of cryptosporidium in Sydney's catchments

U. Ryan, P. Swanson and P. Hawkins
Water, Vol.28(1), pp.38-41
2001
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Abstract

Intensive monitoring for Cryptosporidium in source waters has been ongoing in Sydney since the Sydney Water Crisis in August 1998. Three separate Cryptosporidium contamination 'events' have been detected in the water supply catchments since the Crisis. Duplicate water samples from these events were analysed for Cryptosporidium by immuno-fluorescence assay (IFA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and malachite green. The PCR technique confirmed the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum in more than 70% of the samples that tested positive by IFA. C. parvum type II or 'cattle' genotype was the only Cryptosporidium strain identified by PCR. This study demonstrated that combining the quantification afforded by the IFA method and the genetic specificity from PCR analysis assists in understanding both the public health risk and the source of Cryptosporidium in drinking water supplies. An apparent lack of sensitivity in the PCR analysis compared to IFA may be related to storage time before PCR analysis and warrants further attention.

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