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Human waterborne parasites in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from the Shannon River drainage area, Ireland

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Abstract

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from throughout the Shannon River drainage area in Ireland were tested for the anthropozoonotic waterborne parasites Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Encephalitozoon intestinalis, E. hellem, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi, by the multiplexed combined direct immunofluorescent antibody and fluorescent in situ hybridization method, and PCR. Parasite transmission stages were found at 75% of sites, with the highest mean concentration of 16, nine, and eight C. parvum oocysts, G. lamblia cysts, and Encephalitozoon intestinalis spores/mussel, respectively. On average eight Enterocytozoon bieneusi spores/mussel were recovered at any selected site. Approximately 80% of all parasites were viable and thus capable of initiating human infection. The Shannon River is polluted with serious emerging human waterborne pathogens including C. parvum, against which no therapy exists. Zebra mussels can recover and concentrate environmentally derived pathogens and can be used for the sanitary assessment of water quality.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (grant no. R824995), The Center for A Livable Future, Baltimore, MD (grant no. H040-951-0180), the Polish Committee for Scientific Research (grant no. 604C02421), and a NATO Collaborative Linkage Grant, CLG 979765.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

    Thaddeus K. Graczyk & Leena Tamang

  2. School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Berry College, Mount Berry, GA 30149, USA

    David Bruce Conn

  3. School of Science, Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland

    Frances Lucy

  4. Marine Organism Investigations, 3 Marina Village, Ballina, Killaloe, County Clare, Ireland

    Dan Minchin

  5. National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Public Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Public Services, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA

    Lacy N. S. Moura & Alexandre J. DaSilva

Authors
  1. Thaddeus K. Graczyk
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  2. David Bruce Conn
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  3. Frances Lucy
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  4. Dan Minchin
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  5. Leena Tamang
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  6. Lacy N. S. Moura
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  7. Alexandre J. DaSilva
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Correspondence to Thaddeus K. Graczyk.

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Graczyk, T.K., Conn, D.B., Lucy, F. et al. Human waterborne parasites in zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) from the Shannon River drainage area, Ireland. Parasitol Res 93, 385–391 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1142-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1142-4

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