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Performance comparison of three methods for detection of Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in drinking-water treatment sludge

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Abstract

Detecting pathogenic protozoa in drinking-water treatment sludge is a challenge as existing methods are complex, and unfortunately, there are no specific technical standards to follow. Selecting an efficient analytical method is imperative in developing countries, such as Brazil, in order to evaluate the risk of parasite infection. In this context, three methods to detect Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were tested in sludge generated when water with protozoa and high turbidity was treated. Jar testing was carried out using polyaluminium chloride as a coagulant to generate the residue to be analyzed. The results showed that calcium carbonate flocculation with reduced centrifugation and immunomagnetic separation obtained the highest recoveries in the tested matrix showing 60.2% ± 26.2 for oocysts and 46.1% ± 5 for cysts. The other two methods, the first using the ICN 7× cleaning solution and the second considering the acidification of the sample, both followed by the immunomagnetic separation step, also presented high recoveries showing 41.2% ± 43.3 and 37.9% ± 52.9 for oocysts and 11.5% ± 85.5 and 26% ± 16.3 for cysts, respectively. Evidently, these methods and others should be studied in order to make it possible to detect protozoa in settled residue.

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Funding

The authors are supported by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) (Process 2012/50522-0) and the Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) UK Research and Innovation (SAFEWATER, EPSRC Grant Reference EP/P032427/1) for the research support. Master’s scholarship was awarded to Guilherme Lelis Giglio (Finance Code 001) from the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES-PROEX).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo, 400 Trabalhador São-carlense Avenue, São Carlos, São Paulo, 13566-590, Brazil

    Guilherme Lelis Giglio & Lyda Patricia Sabogal-Paz

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  1. Guilherme Lelis Giglio
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  2. Lyda Patricia Sabogal-Paz
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Correspondence to Lyda Patricia Sabogal-Paz.

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Authors hereby declare previous originality check, and no conflict of interest and open access to the repository of data used in this paper for scientific purposes.

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Giglio, G.L., Sabogal-Paz, L.P. Performance comparison of three methods for detection of Giardia spp. cysts and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in drinking-water treatment sludge. Environ Monit Assess 190, 686 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-7057-9

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