Giardia and Cryptosporidium are the most frequent enteric protozoa causing gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. Intense recreational activity at Portuguese river beaches triggered the opportunity for a 2-year seasonal survey of 19 large river basin beaches. A total of 74 samples were collected and processed according to USEPA Method 1623 to detect Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts. Faecal indicators (thermotolerant/total coliforms, Escherichia coli, and enterococci) and physicochemical parameters were also analysed according to the EU Bath Water Directive (BWD). Results pointed to a widespread presence of these protozoa at Portuguese river beaches. The percentage of samples testing positive for Giardia and Cryptosporidium were 85 and 82% respectively, with no significant differences between wet and dry seasons (p > 0.05). Although Portuguese river beaches present a very low exposure risk for infection with Giardia and Cryptosporidium (under 10−3), a few particular cases revealed values over 0.2%, and were related to stormy wet events. The correlation between levels of Giardia and thermotolerant coliforms, E. coli and enterococci, was high (r ≥ 0.87, p < 0.001), suggesting the need to carry out specific procedures for the detection of Giardia and Cryptosporidium whenever the values of those faecal indicators approach the maximum allowed level of the EU BWD.
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Research Article|
August 14 2012
Waterborne transmission of Giardia and Cryptosporidium at river beaches in Southern Europe (Portugal)
Cláudia Júlio;
1National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Av. Padre Cruz 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
E-mail: [email protected]
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Cátia Sá;
Cátia Sá
2Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Centro de Biodiversidade, Genómica Integrativa e Funcional (BioFIG), Edifício ICAT, Campus da FCUL, Lisbon, Portugal
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Idalina Ferreira;
Idalina Ferreira
1National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Av. Padre Cruz 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
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Susana Martins;
Susana Martins
1National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Av. Padre Cruz 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
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Mónica Oleastro;
Mónica Oleastro
1National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Av. Padre Cruz 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
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Helena Ângelo;
Helena Ângelo
1National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Av. Padre Cruz 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
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José Guerreiro;
José Guerreiro
3Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Centro de Oceanografia, Lisbon, Portugal
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Rogério Tenreiro
Rogério Tenreiro
2Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Centro de Biodiversidade, Genómica Integrativa e Funcional (BioFIG), Edifício ICAT, Campus da FCUL, Lisbon, Portugal
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J Water Health (2012) 10 (3): 484–496.
Article history
Received:
February 10 2012
Accepted:
July 18 2012
Citation
Cláudia Júlio, Cátia Sá, Idalina Ferreira, Susana Martins, Mónica Oleastro, Helena Ângelo, José Guerreiro, Rogério Tenreiro; Waterborne transmission of Giardia and Cryptosporidium at river beaches in Southern Europe (Portugal). J Water Health 1 September 2012; 10 (3): 484–496. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2012.030
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