We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Quantitative assessment of viable Cryptosporidium parvum load in commercial oysters (Crassostrea virginica) in the Chesapeake Bay.
- Authors
Earl Lewis; Gregory Glass; Alexandre Dasilva; Leena Tamang; Autumn Girouard; Frank Curriero
- Abstract
Abstract??The epidemiological importance of increasing reports worldwide onCryptosporidiumcontamination of oysters remains unknown in relation to foodborne cryptosporidiosis. Thirty market-size oysters (Crassostrea virginica), collected from each of 53 commercial harvesting sites in Chesapeake Bay, MD, were quantitatively tested in groups of six forCryptosporidiumsp. oocysts by immunofluorescent antibody (IFA). After IFA analysis, the samples were retrospectively retested for viableCryptosporidium parvumoocysts by combined fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and IFA. The mean cumulative numbers ofCryptosporidiumsp. oocysts in six oysters (overall, 42.1?4.1) were significantly higher than in the numbers of viableC. parvumoocysts (overall, 28.0?2.9). Of 265 oyster groups, 221 (83.4%) contained viableC. parvumoocysts, and overall, from 10?32% (mean, 23%) of the total viable oocysts were identified in the hemolymph as distinct from gill washings. The amount of viableC. parvumoocysts was not related to oyster size or to the level of fecal coliforms at the sampling site. This study demonstrated that, although oysters are frequently contaminated with oocysts, the levels of viable oocysts may be too low to cause infection in healthy individuals. FISH assay for identification can be retrospectively applied to properly stored samples.
- Subjects
CRYPTOSPORIDIUM parvum; AMERICAN oyster; CRYPTOSPORIDIUM; CRASSOSTREA
- Publication
Parasitology Research, 2007, Vol 100, Issue 2, p247
- ISSN
0932-0113
- Publication type
Article