Occurrence of cryptosporidium, Giardia and Toxoplasma in surface waters in the area of Cracow

Abstract

Despite some knowledge on the risks from exposure to intestinal parasitic protozoa such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Toxoplasma, no occurrence studies of these protozoa were conducted in Cracow area. Therefore, the purpose of the work was to examine the presence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia and Toxoplasma in surface water samples including intakes and recreational waters. The study showed that the vast majority of water samples were positive for Cryptosporidium sp., and some of the samples were positive for Giardia intestinalis. None of the tested water samples showed the presence of Toxoplasma. Given the limitations of the research methods used and the limits of detection, these results indicated that the concentration of protozoan cysts/oocysts may range from <1 to dozens oocysts/cysts per liter of water. These concentrations are comparable to the values given in reports of major worldwide outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis, which indicating a need to further investigate Cracow's surface waters.