ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM FROM WATER

The efficiency of the established method for isolation and identification of Cryptosporidium was assessed and found to be as low as one percent. Each stage of the process was evaluated. Between 5 and 30 percent of the oocysts were not retained by the initial cartridge filtration. A further 2 to 30 percent could not be eluted. Subsequent stages involving centrifugation and ultrasonic disaggregation were shown to disrupt staining by the established immunofluorescence assay.