Monitoring of Noxious Protozoa for Management of Natural Water Resources

Infectious parasitic diseases, once considered eliminated from the list of public health issues, remain a major cause of severe illnesses worldwide. Epidemiological parameters such as dramatic changes in technology, travel, and the environment, particularly climate change, together with the diminished effectiveness of certain measures of disease control, have propelled our society into a new era of parasitoses. The spectrum of infectious parasitoses is once again expanding. During diagnosis and treatment, however, most clinicians disregard protozoan infections in diarrheal patients and instead focus on pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Waterborne protozoan diseases have become an unarguable global public health problem and are major factors in epidemic and endemic diseases [1]. Waterborne outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis have been reported in several countries [6–8]. At present, infections caused by Giardia lamblia account for 2.8×10⁸ cases of diarrhea annually [9]. One of the major outbreaks occurred in 1993 as a waterborne gastroenteritis epidemic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which was attributed to the presence of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in drinking water supplied by a local water treatment plant [2,3]. This protozoan is one of the main causes of 4 billion cases of diarrhea, which is one of the 5 most common disease factors in death, causes 21% of deaths in children under 5 years of age, and is now recognized as a major global epidemic [4,5].

The most prevalent waterborne protozoan parasitoses causing diarrhea are cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis. Cryptosporidium and Giardia are protozoa that have environmental stages of the life cycle (oocyst and cyst) that are excreted into the host feces. In Korea, a nationwide survey of protozoan infestation among diarrheal patients was conducted during 2004–2006 [10] and showed that the prevalence of protozoan cysts was 129 per 10,000 individuals, and among pediatric diarrheal patients, C. parvum was often accompanied by a rotavirus (29.5%). In addition, the unknown pathogens responsible for outbreaks in more than 12% cases of foodborne illnesses reportedly include manifold protozoa [11]. Most of these protozoa use the fecal-oral route of transmission to reach new hosts directly via infested individuals or contaminated fomites or through ingestion of cysts with contaminated food or water [12].

The economic burden of these diseases is considerable. Furthermore, climate change is likely to influence the prevalence of protozoan parasitoses among humans. The opinion of clinical experts is that diseases caused by emerging or resurging protozoa will dramatically increase in prevalence. The impact on noxious protozoa may be the most serious consequence of climate change in the public health domain. Widespread resistance to insecticides and drugs and genetic changes in pathogens are expected to be critical consequences as well. Therefore, Cryptosporidium and Giardia constitute key threats to public health, even in developed countries.

It is important to establish a management strategy based on the results of testing of water for contamination in relevant sources. Here, we report the results on long-term monitoring of noxious protozoa—C. parvum, G. lamblia, and Naegleria fowleri—for establishment of a water security management system.

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite associated with diarrheal illness in most parts of the world and is a frequent cause of travelers’ diarrhea. Infestation is mediated by the ingestion of sporulated oocysts transmitted via the fecal–oral route. These oocysts are remarkably resistant to common disinfectants and to routine chlorination of drinking water. Giardia is a binucleated flagellate protozoan that can exist in cyst form for days. It is also a cosmopolitan enteric parasite with a wide host range that includes domestic and wild animals as well as humans. Giardia is a common cause of gastrointestinal diseases and waterborne diarrhea worldwide. This protozoan is transmitted through the ingestion of cysts, and travelers can contract giardiasis in endemic areas. Infestation is commonly asymptomatic, but mild to moderate self-limiting diarrhea occurs in some cases. N. fowleri, known as the “brain-eating amoeba,” is a free-living, bacteria-eating amoeba that may be pathogenic. It causes a fulminant brain infection called naegle-riasis, also known as primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, and is typically found in warm freshwater bodies such as ponds, lakes, rivers, and hot springs [13].

For all the protozoa analyzed in this study, the most commonly identified nonhuman source of infestation is water: either drinking water or recreational exposure in swimming pools [14–16]. The objective of the present study was to identify sources of contaminated water for future implementation of short- and long-term control measures. Available studies on these 3 protozoa pertain to their prevalence in hosts and in drinking water rather than in the environment [17–20]. Here, we describe the results of an investigation of the prevalence of C. parvum, G. lamblia, and N. fowleri in surface water resources and highlight the problem of their timely detection.

A catchment scale investigation of the prevalence of these microorganisms was carried out. Water samples were collected every other month: 10 times from August 2014 to June 2016. Five surface water sampling sites were employed: 2 lakes (Soyang lake [K3] in Gangwon-do and Juam lake [K4] in Jeollanam-do), the Geum river (Hyundo bridge [K5] at Shintanjindong in Daejeon), and 2 water intake plants (Guui [K1] on the Han river in Seoul and Mae-ri [K2] on the Nakdong river in Gimhae-si) (Fig. 1).

Fig. 1

Locations of the sampling sites in Korea denoting the absence or presence of Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, and/or Naegleria fowleri. K1, Guui water intake plant on Han river in Seoul; K2, Mae-ri water intake plant on Nakdong river in Gimhae; K3, So-yang lake; K4, Juam lake; K5, Geum river in Daejeon. Green circle represents the sampling sites in water intake plant, and blue circle represents the lake and river.

The water was sampled at the surface at a distance from the shore where the water depth was approximately waist high (~1 m). Each sample (40 L) was collected at a 3-m distance from the shore. The water samples were filtered through a 3-μm nitrocellulose membrane in a filter housing with 30 psi pressure. Each 40 L sample was processed individually. The nitrocellulose membranes containing protozoa were transported to our laboratory in Incheon and stored at 4°C until analysis.

The nitrocellulose membranes were finely chopped in 1 ml of PBS to extract protozoan cysts and/or oocysts from each membrane by vigorous vortexing. The resultant PBS samples were centrifuged at 12,000 g for 30 min, and the pellet was subjected to a protozoa detection assay. Genomic DNA was extracted directly from the pellets using the QIAamp DNA Stool Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). Direct fluorescent antibody (DFA) tests and enzyme immunoassays, which detect intact microorganisms and soluble stool antigens, respectively, were performed to detect C. parvum oocysts and G. lamblia cysts [21].

Conventional microscopy, culturing, and antigen detection are limited by relatively low sensitivity and specificity. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a more effective method not only for epidemiological studies but also as a tool for highly sensitive detection of contamination [22]. In practice, microscopic examination is useful, and its application is mandatory for the diagnosis of intestinal parasitoses. Nevertheless, diagnostic sensitivity of microscopic methods is estimated to be 60% [23]. To identify C. parvum oocysts and G. lamblia cysts, an immunofluorescent assay based on fluorescently labeled mouse monoclonal antibodies was conducted (Crypto Cel IFA test kit and Giardia Cel IFA test kit; Cellabs, Sydney, Australia) (Fig. 2). PCR was carried out to amplify protozoan DNA within 72 hr after sample collection [24]. The noxious protozoa in water were detected by means of fluorescently labeled antibodies. The test-positive material that reacted with a fluorescent antibody in the assay appeared as greenish oval or spherical particles with bright edges.

Fig. 2

Photomicrographs of immunofluorescent assay of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia. (A–C), Cryptosporidium parvum. (A) February 2015, So-yang lake. (B) April 2015, Geum river. (C) June 2015, Geum river. (D–F), Giardia lamblia. (D) August 2014, Mae-ri. (E) April 2015, So-yang lake. (F) June 2015, Juam lake. (×1,000 magnifications).

The primer sets for PCR amplification were complementary to the Cryptosporidium 18S ribosomal RNA gene sequence (AWA722F: 5′-AGTGCTTAAAGCAGGCAACTG-3′ AWA1235R: 5′-CGTTAACGGAATTAACC- AGAC-3′) or Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) for nested PCR procedures (Cry-15: 5′-GTAGATAATGGAAGAGATTGTG-3′, CRY-9: 5′-GGACTGAAATACAGGCATTATCTTG-3′, COWPnestF1: 5′-TGTGTTCAATCAGACACAGC-3′ and COWPnestR2: 5′-TCTGATTATCCTGGTGGGC-3′) [25]. For Giardia, the primer sets were complementary to the Giardia 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence (RH-11: 5′-CATCCGGTCGATC- CTGCC-3′, RH-4: 5′-AGTCGAACCCTGATTCTCCGCCAGG-3′) and the intergenic spacer region (IGS) for nested PCR (AS1: 5′-CGACCGGGACACGATCCTGCC-3′, AS2: 5′-AGGACTGCATATCACGGC-3′, IGSnestF: 5′-AGAGCAGCCGATCCCCCG-3′ and IGSnestR: 5′-AATTGGAGGCTGACTGTG-3′) [26].

To detect N. fowleri, we performed PCR amplification of the N. fowleri Nfa1 gene with the following primer set: Nfa1-F, 5′-ATGGCCACTACTATTCCATCACCA-3′; Nfa1-R, 5′-AAGCACTCCCTTGTACTTCAT-3′. Besides, the water samples were analyzed for total culturable protozoa on an Escherichia coli lawn culture plate of a non-nutrient agar medium (0.01% yeast extract and 1.5% agar) [27]. As a result of culturing for 2–4 days, N. fowleri in trophozoite or cyst form was not detected in any water samples by the by direct fluorescence assay (DFA) and PCR.

All water samples from the 5 sites in this study were contaminated with Cryptosporidium oocysts, Giardia cysts, or both at various concentrations (Table 1). The samples obtained in August and December 2014, December 2015, April 2016, and June 2016 tested negative for Cryptosporidium contamination; however, C. parvum oocysts were detected in some samples collected in February and June 2015 and February 2016. The April 2016 samples from Juam lake and the February 2016 samples from both lakes under study tested positive in the PCR assays. G. lamblia cysts were continuously detected in samples collected between August 2014 and June 2015. Those from So-yang lake and the Geum river in August 2014 and from Lake Juam in October 2014 tested positive in the PCR assay. By contrast, the water samples obtained from the 5 sites between December 2015 and April 2016 tested negative for both C. parvum and G. lamblia according to the DFA analysis, but some tested positive in the PCR analysis. In particular, the samples collected in February 2016 from the 5 sites were test-positive only according to the results of PCR.

Table 1

Occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia at 5 water sampling sites (2014–2016)

For quantitative analysis, Cryptosporidium and Giardia were first identified and enumerated by means of an immunofluorescent reaction in accordance with their sizes and morphological features. Briefly, 40 L of water collected from each sampling site was transported, filtered on the same day of collection, and concentrated to a final volume of 3 ml. Twenty-five microliters of the final filtrate was used in the immunofluorescence microscopy analysis for counting. The results of the recovery of Cryptosporidium and Giardia from 40 L raw-water samples are presented in Table 2.

Table 2

Recovery of noxious protozoa (Cryptosporidium and Giardia) from the filtered membrane module

The highest concentration of Cryptosporidium (36 oocysts/L), which was identified with the microscopic tools and fluorescently labeled antibodies as well as PCR, was detected in February 2015 in So-yang lake. The samples from the Geum river obtained in April 2015 and June 2015 contained Cryptosporidium at 9 and 12 oocysts/L, respectively. With respect to Giardia, although the concentrations of cysts in the water samples varied (9–39 cysts/L), the highest concentration of Giardia (39 cysts/L), which was identified by the DFA and PCR analyses, was detected in August 2014, April 2015, and June 2015 in Juam lake, which was the most frequently sampled site (4 of 5 sampling time points; see Table 2). The lowest concentration of confirmed Giardia cysts (9 cysts/L) was observed at the sampling sites near the 2 water intake plants (Guui and Mae-ri). Between August 2014 and June 2016, the geometric mean concentrations of Cryptosporidium and Giardia according to DFA and PCR analyses were 1.14 oocysts/L and 4.62 cysts/L, respectively.

Environmental pollution is now considered a global issue. Water contamination, a lack of safe drinking water, and improper disposal of waste residues can lead to serious public health problems. The data from the catchment scale survey in this work will help with identifying and prioritizing the next steps for identifying sources of contamination and elucidating the processes that underpin microbial dissemination. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Naegleria at the study sites is crucial because these sites are the principal sources of drinking water for several provinces in Korea.

Researchers and clinicians should be aware of the widely reported 1993 Milwaukee cryptosporidiosis outbreak that affected more than 400,000 individuals [2,3,6]. Some time ago, microbiological tests at water treatment and purification plants were reinforced with the rigorous Water Supply and Waterworks Installation Act and Guide for Water Treatment (published in February 2007). Although our results show that each protozoan under study is not always detected in all water sources, the potential risks of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis must be taken into account. Thus, effective monitoring plans must consider that the spatial and temporal parameters of contamination affect the prevalence and distribution of these 3 protozoans in local water resources.