Techniques for Cryptosporidium sp. detection in Wastewater Treatment Systems
Ivonne Arnedo,
Mariangela Bracho,
Odelis Díaz Suárez,
Ligia Botero
Affiliations
Ivonne Arnedo
Centro de Investigaciones del Agua, Facultad de Ingeniería. Unidad de Investigación en Microbiología Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Zulia. Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Mariangela Bracho
Centro de Investigaciones del Agua, Facultad de Ingeniería. Unidad de Investigación en Microbiología Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Zulia. Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Odelis Díaz Suárez
Instituto de Investigaciones Clínicas "Dr. Américo Negrette". Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia. Maracaibo, Venezuela.
Ligia Botero
Centro de Investigaciones del Agua, Facultad de Ingeniería. Unidad de Investigación en Microbiología Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Zulia. Maracaibo, Venezuela.
This work evaluates the applicability of the Kinyoun and immunofluorescence techniques for periodic control of the parasitological quality of wastewater from the stabilization lagoon system “Wastewater Treatment Plant South” in the city of Maracaibo. Cryptosporidium sp. was detected in the 100% of the samples analyzed by both techniques. The concentration of Cryptosporidum sp. detected by the Kinyoun technique was: 4.9x105 oocysts/100L at the plant entrance, 1.2x105 oocysts/100L in the primary modules, 5.9x104 oocysts/100L in the facultative lagoon and 3.0x104 oocysts/100L in the final effluent, while those of C. parvum detected by inmunofluorescence were: 5.9x104 oocysts/100L, 7.7x104 oocysts/100L, 3.0x105 oocysts/100L and 3.0x104 oocysts/100L, respectively. A 100% correspondence of the results from samples analyzed by both techniques was observed. Given the advantages in ease of application, rapidity and costs offered by the Kinyoun technique, its routine application for evaluating Cryptosporidium sp. in wastewater samples is suggested. The presence of parasites in the final effluent was observed; therefore, from the parasitological viewpoint, it is not apt for irrigation purposes, without representing a risk to human health.
