Title: Cryptosporidium In Farmed And Wild Animals And The Implications For Water Contamination
Author: Sturdlee A
Author: University: Coventry Coventry
Document Type: Monograph
Annotation: Environment Agency Project ID:EAPRJOUT_244, Representation ID: 37, Object ID: 1591
Abstract:
This report is the account of a project funded jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Environment Agency (MAFF Ref: WA0 1515, contract CSA 2783; Environment Agency. Ref: 1561) from March 1995 to February 1998, for work on the Warwickshire College Estate by the Cryptosporidium Research Group of Coventry University. The purpose was to complete an intensive investigation of a single site to establish a benchmark for the occurrence.of Cryptosporidium in a lowland agricultural area and to explore the movement of the organism into local surface waters. The distribution of the intestinal, protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum has been investigated on a single 190 hectare site, the Watwickshire College Estate,located in the English Midlands, by Coventry University with assistance from the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) to assess rat populations. The aims of this, study were (I). to produce a quantitative and comprehensive account of-the occurrence of the parasite in livestock and wild mammals by analysis of faecal samples, (2) to explore routes and reservoirs of infection amongst the animal groups tested and (3) to identify potential pathways.for the contamination of water courses. During the.3 year investigation, 3374 faecal samples were tested using a diagnostic monoclonal antibody to identify.the parasite. 545 physical media samples, taken weekly or fortnightly from the stream, the farm. drainage ditch, other outfalls and fields used for slurry spreading, were also analysed. A second location; Lodge Pond, 3.5 km from the Estate and free of livestock influence, was monitored routinely for the presence of oocysts in faecal samples from its rat population and in the pond water. This study has confirmed that Crypfosporidium is ubiquitous amongst mammals and established a benchmark for what may be the irreducible, minimum background level Of the organism to be expected in the UK countryside.
Publisher: Environment Agency
Subject Keywords: Rivers; Ponds; Environmental management; Human diseases; Public health; Parasitism; Host parasite relations; Freshwater ecology
Taxonomic Keywords: Cryptosporidium parvum
Extent: 68
Permalink: http://www.environmentdata.org/archive/ealit:4320
Total file downloads: 346
Download PDF Display PDF in separate tab
