Isolation of viable and infective Giarida Lamblia cysts from drinking water in Alexandria

ABSTRACT

A total of 40 water samples were taken over a period of 3 months; 15 samples from the special canal of drinking water representing the raw water, 15 samples from the finished water tank of Bab-Sharky water treatment plant and 10 tap water of High Institute of Public Health. The Chang and Kelber technique [1956] was used for preparation of water samples and then examined microscopically for detection of the Giardia cysts. Laboratory bred parasite-free white rats [Rattus norvegicus albinus] were used for animal infectivity. They were inoculated with doses of Giardia cysts isolated from raw, finished and tap water samples. The obtained results revealed the isolation of viable and infective Giardia cysts from raw, finished and tap water samples as indicated by animal infectivity. The most likely expected causes for the presence of Giardia cysts were discussed