• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제34권5호
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• pp.382-386
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• 2008

This study was designed to establish the time frame of viability and infectivity of Cryptosporidium, when the Cryptosporidium is discharged to the aquatic environment. Changes in viability and infectivity of Cryptosporidium in relation to temperature and pH were investigated during winter (Dec 05-Feb 06) using semipermeable cellulose tubes containing infective Cryptosporidium. Infectivity was maintained at 50% after 30 days and almost completely lost after 50 days. It was also established that viability was maintained at about 8% after 90 days.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제7권3호
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• pp.189-193
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• 1997

Cryptosporidium parvum has been recognized as a significant cause of life-threatening diarrhea in Acquired ImmunoDeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients. Clinical diagnosis of cryptosporidial infections has been primarily based on the detection of infective stage, oocysts, in stools. Anti-Cryptosporidium oocyst monoclonal antibody (mAb), IgG2a, recognizing an antigen of 97 kDa was generated to be used for diagnosis of Cryptosporidium infection in AIDS patients using an immunofluorecence. It appeared to react with the surface antigens. Transmission electron micrographs of the infective stage of Cryptosporidium recognized by this mAb demonstrated sporolulated oocysts, which measure $4~6{\mu}m$, and sporozoites excysting from oocysts.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권5호
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• pp.479-485
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• 2014

Cryptosporidium diarrhea represents a relevant clinical problem in developing countries. In Al-Taif, a city of Saudi Arabia that lies at an altitude of an around 2 km above the sea level, Cryptosporidium infection seems to be undiagnosed in nearly all clinical laboratories. Furthermore, nothing was published regarding Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhea in this area. The objectives of this research were to (1) determine the Cryptosporidium prevalence among patients with diarrhea and (2) to estimate the performances of 3 different diagnostic methods. Total 180 diarrheal fecal samples, 1 sample per patient, were collected between January and August 2013. Samples were screened for Cryptosporidium with modified Zeihl Neelsen (ZN) microscopy, $RIDA^{(R)}$ Quick lateral flow (LF) immunotest, and a previously published PCR. The Cryptosporidium prevalence rate was 9.4% (17/180), 10% (18/180), and 11.6% (21/180) by microscopy, LF, and PCR test, respectively. Infection was significantly (P=0.004) predominant among children <5 years (22%) followed by children 5-9 years (11.1%). Although infection was higher in males than in females (16.2% males and 8.5% females), the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.11). Compared to PCR, the sensitivity of microscopy and the LF test were 80.9%, 85.7%, respectively. To conclude, high Cryptosporidium-associated diarrhea was found in this area especially in children ${\leq}9$ years. The PCR test showed the best performance followed by the LF test and ZN staining microscopy. The primary health care providers in Al-Taif need to be aware of and do testing for this protozoon, particularly for children seen with diarrhea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권1호
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• pp.113-117
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• 2015

Cryptosporidium spp., ubiquitous enteric parasitic protozoa of vertebrates, recently emerged as an important cause of economic loss and zoonosis. The present study aimed to determine the distribution and species of Cryptosporidium in post-weaned and adult pigs in Shaanxi province, northwestern China. A total of 1,337 fresh fecal samples of post-weaned and adult pigs were collected by sterile disposable gloves from 8 areas of Shaanxi province. The samples were examined by Sheather's sugar flotation technique and microscopy at${\times}400$ magnification for Cryptosporidium infection, and the species in positive samples was further identified by PCR amplification of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. A total of 44 fecal samples were successfully amplified by the nested PCR of the partial SSU rRNA, with overall prevalence of 3.3%. The average prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in each pig farms ranged from 0 to 14.4%. Species identification by sequencing of SSU rRNA gene revealed that 42 (3.1%) samples were Cryptosporidium suis and 2 (0.15%) were Cryptosporidium scrofarum. C. suis had the highest prevalence (7.5%) in growers and the lowest in breeding pigs (0.97%). C. suis was the predominant species in pre-weaned and adult pigs, while C. scrofarum infected pigs older than 3 months only. A season-related difference of C. suis was observed in this study, with the highest prevalence in autumn (5.5%) and the lowest (1.7%) in winter. The present study provided basic information for control of Cryptosporidium infection in pigs and assessment of zoonotic transmission of pigs in Shaanxi province, China.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.423-426
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• 2011

In the genus Cryptosporidium, there are more than 14 species with different sizes and habitats, as well as different hosts. Among these, C. parvum and C. hominis are known to be human pathogens. As C. parvum can survive exposure to harsh environmental conditions, including various disinfectants or high doses of radiation, it is considered to be an important environmental pathogen that may be a threat to human health. However, the resistance of other Cryptosporidium species to various environmental conditions is unknown. In this study, resistance against ${\gamma}$-irradiation was compared between C. parvum and C. muris using in vivo infection in mice. The capability of C. muris to infect mice could be eliminated with 1,000 Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation, while C. parvum remained infective in mice after up to 1,000 Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation, although the peak number of oocysts per gram of feces decreased to 16% that of non-irradiated oocysts. The difference in radioresistance between these 2 Cryptosporidium species should be investigated by further studies.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제48권4호
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• pp.297-301
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• 2010

Recently, emerging waterbome protozoa, such as microsporidia, Cyclospora, and Cryptosporidium, have become a challenge to human health worldwide. Rapid, simple, and economical detection methods for these major waterborne protozoa in environmental and clinical samples are necessary to control infection and improve public health. In the present study, we developed a multiplex PCR test that is able to detect all these 3 major waterborne protozoa at the same time. Detection limits of the multiplex PCR method ranged from $10^1$ to $10^2$ oocysts or spores. The primers for microsporidia or Cryptosporidium used in this study can detect both Enterocytozoon bieneusi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis, or both Cryptosporidium hominis and Cryptosporidium paNum, respectively. Restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products with BsaBI or BsiEI makes it possible to distinguish the 2 species of microsporidia or Cryptosporidium, respectively. This simple, rapid, and cost-effective multiplex PCR method will be useful for detecting outbreaks or sporadic cases of waterborne protozoa infections.

• 대한환경공학회지
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.31-39
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• 2007

본 연구에서는 오존 및 UV 소독을 통해 Cryptosporidium 불활성화 특성을 파악하고 소독의 방향성을 제시하고자 하였다. ozone을 이용한 Cryptosporidium 불활성화 효과는 소독지표의 하나인 CT값$(mg{\cdot}min/L)$으로 평가할 수 있으며, 1 log(90%) 불활성화 CT값은 5.77 $mg{\cdot}min/L$이고 2 log(99%) 불화성화 CT값은 21.30 $mg{\cdot}min/L$인 것으로 나타났다. UV 소독을 통한 Cryptosporidium oocysts 불활성화 효과의 경우 pH(5, 7, 9)와 저탁도(5 NTU 이하) 그리고 UV 강도(0.2, 0.6 $mWs/cm^2$)에 따른 효과는 뚜렷하게 나타나지 않았다. 그러나 20 NTU 이상의 고탁도인 경우에는 불활성 효과가 뚜렷하게 감소하였다. 따라서 정수처리공정에서 UV 소독을 실시할 경우 탁도를 충분히 낮춰야만 만족할 만한 소독 능을 얻을 수 있으며 높은 UV 강도에서 충분한 시간 동안 UV가 조사된다면 더 높은 Cryptosporidium oocysts의 불활성화 효과를 얻을 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.399-405
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• 2010

In order to quantify removal efficiency of Cryptosporidium in water treatment process and evaluate factors influencing removal efficiency of Cryptosporidium in each step of water treatment process, large pilot plant system ($100m^3/day$) and Cryptracer, surrogate of Cryptosporidium, were used. The removal efficiency of Cryptracer was around 0.8~1 log in coagulation process and 3.3~4.8 log in sand filtration process under ordinary environmental conditions. Factors influenced removal efficiency of Cryptracer were high fluctuate turbidity and water temperature. High fluctuate turbidity made difficult to adjust optimum PAC concentration, caused to drop removal efficiency of coagulation process (0.5 log). Inadequate coagulation process influenced to sand filtration process (2.1 log), caused to decline of removal efficiency in the whole process (2.6 log). Low temperature below $2^{\circ}C$ also influenced coagulation process (0.6 log). Therefore, It is shown that careful attention in the control of Cryptosporidium is needed in flood period, when high fluctuate turbidity would be, and winter period of low temperature.

• 한국물환경학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.271-276
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• 2006

The outbreak cases of Cryptosporidium or Giardia from drinking water in abroad have drawn attentions on the public health. It is well known that Cryptosporidium is the most resistant organism against chlorine disinfection. To guesstimate the levels of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in Korean surface water, 1~2 samples from 22 drinking water sources in four Korean major rivers of Han, Keum, Nakdong, and Youngsan were monitored. In addition, two sites in Kyunganchon, a contaminated river were monitored for comparison. In source waters, detection rates of Cryptosporidium and Giardia were 15% (6/39) and 21% (5/24) with the range of 1~3 oocysts/10 L and 1~6 cysts/10 L, respectively. In Kyunganchon, they were 60% (6/10) and 70% (7/10) in the range of 1~9 oocysts/10 L and 10~72 cysts/10 L, respectively. When one of the source waters in Han river was monitored monthly, Cryptosporidium were found mostly in cold season. Matrix of the samples gave influence on the recoveries of the spiked protozoa. The recoveries of both Cryptosporidium and Giardia increased in the samples of Kyunganchon, known as contaminated area. However, protozoan recovery did not show significant relation with turbidity, the index of matrix contamination, which implies that there are additional unveiled features of matrix affecting the recoveries of the protozoa. The protozoan distribution in Kyunganchon showed significant relations with Cl. perfringens, anaerobic and spore forming indicator bacteria of fecal contamination by regression analysis, but not with turbidity, the general indicator of water quality.

• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.152-157
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• 1995

A total of 1050 layer and broiler chickens from 63 flocks of 21 poultry farms in South-Kyeonggi area, aged from 1 to 18 weeks, were investigated for the prevalence of Cryptosporidium baileyi infection from May 1992 to March 1993. The results have shown that 44 chickens(4.19%) were infected with C.(baileyi during the period of investigation) Fecal samples were treated by using Sheather's flotating technique and were examined under the light and phase contrast microscopy and then stained by Kinyoun method. Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 35 out of 650 broilers(5.4%) and 9 out of 400 layer chickens(2.3%) aged mainly from 2 to 12 weeks. The regional infection rate were 4.7% in Pyeong-taek, 5.1% in An-sung and 2.3% in Yong-in, respectively. The average size of isolated oocyst was about $5.23{\times}4.92{\mu}m$ and the oocysts were orally inoculated into 2-day-old SPF chickens for the histological examination of oocyst in bursa of Fabricius. The study has concluded that C. baileyi infects chickens and oocysts were isolated in South-Kyeonggi area.