Movement of the protozoan pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum through three contrasting soil types

• Published in: Biology and fertility of soils 1996, Vol.21 (1/2), p.30-36
• Main Authors: Mawdsley, J.L, Brooks, A.E, Merry, R.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: animal manures; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; clay loam soils; Cryptosporidium parvum; drinking water; excreta; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; health hazards; land application; leaching; loamy sand soils; microbial contamination; Microbial ecology; movement in soil; oocysts; sandy soils; silt loam soils; Soil; water pollution
• ISSN: 0178-2762; 1432-0789
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00335990

The potential for transfer of the protozoan pathogen Cryptosporidium parvum through soil to land drains and, subsequently, water courses following the application of livestock waste to land was monitored in the laboratory using simulated rainfall and intact soil cores. Following irrigation over a 21-day period, Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts applied to the surface of soil cores (initial inoculum concentration 1 X 10(8) oocysts core-1) were detected, albeit in low numbers, in the leachates from clay loam and silty loam soils but not in that from a loamy sand soil. Variations in leaching patterns were recorded between replicate cores. At the end of the study soil cores were destructively sampled to establish the location of oocysts remaining within the soil. Distribution within cores was similar in all three soil types. The majority (72.8 +/- 5.29%) of oocysts were found in the top 2 cm of soil, with numbers decreasing with increasing depth to 13.2 +/- 2.8%, 8.39 +/- 1.4%, and 5.36 +/- 1.4% at depths of 10, 20, and 30 cm, respectively.