Detection ofCryptosporidiumandCyclosporaOocysts from Environmental Water for Drinking and Recreational Activities in Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

Cryptosporidiosis and cyclosporiasis are caused by waterborne coccidian protozoan parasites of the generaCryptosporidiumandCyclospora,respectively. This study was conducted to detectCryptosporidiumandCyclosporaoocysts from environmental water abstracted by drinking water treatment plants and recreational activities in Sarawak, Malaysia. Water samples (12 each) were collected from Sungai Sarawak Kanan in Bau and Sungai Sarawak Kiri in Batu Kitang, respectively. In addition, 6 water samples each were collected from Ranchan Recreational Park and UNIMAS Lake at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, respectively. Water physicochemical parameters were also recorded. All samples were concentrated by the iron sulfate flocculation method followed by the sucrose floatation technique.CryptosporidiumandCyclosporawere detected by modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Correlation of the parasites distribution with water physicochemical parameters was analysed using bivariate Pearson correlation. Based on the 24 total samples of environmental water abstracted by drinking water treatment plants, all the samples (24/24; 100%) were positive withCryptosporidium, and only 2 samples (2/24; 8.33%) were positive withCyclospora. Based on the 12 total samples of water for recreational activities, 4 samples (4/12; 33%) were positive withCryptosporidium, while 2 samples (2/12; 17%) were positive withCyclospora.Cryptosporidiumoocysts were negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen (DO).