Cryptosporidium Parasite in Drinking Water

Cryptosporidium is a dangerous parasite that can contaminate drinking water and has made hundreds of thousands of Americans sick during just the past 10 years. When a person has been infected by Cryptosporidium, only the symptoms of the illness can be treated; there is no cure. Most people are ill for 1-2 weeks and their immune system eventually remedies the illness. For people with a compromised immune system, the parasite can be deadly. Water filters are an effective methods of eliminating these parasites from drinking water.

Microorganisms, Bacteria, and Viruses in Drinking Water: "Cryptosporidium

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that causes cryptosporidiosis, which has gained notoriety in the past five years. In 1993, over 400,000 people in Milwaukee, Wisconsin became ill with it after drinking contaminated water (6). Since this outbreak, there has been a greater impetus to remove the cryptosporidium from municipal water supplies.

Cryptosporidium is spread by the transmission of oocysts via drinking water which has been contaminated with infected fecal material. Oocysts from humans are infective to humans and many other mammals, and many animals act as reservoirs of oocysts which can infect humans. Once inside of its host, the oocyst breaks, releasing four movable spores that attach to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, and eventually form oocysts again that can be excreted (4). Symptoms occur 2 to 10 days after infection (6). These symptoms include diarrhea, headache, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and a low fever. There is no treatment against the protozoa, although it is possible to treat the symptoms. After about 1-2 weeks, the symptoms subside as the immune system stops the infection. However, for persons with a compromised immune system such as infants, seniors, those with AIDS, or transplantees, cryptosporidiosis may become life threatening (4,6). "

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