Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella

Cryptosporidium

                  Cryptosporidium is a gastrointestinal disease in the small intestine cause by a microscopic parasite. The parasite enters the system and burrows in the walls of your intestines. There, it multiplies. The body tries to flush the parasite out and causes watery diarrhea. The parasite can be shed in one's feces if they have a healthy immune system. Poor immune systems can be life threatening without proper treatment. People have died in severe cases.

                  The parasite can enter the body if swallowed. It is commonly found in water sources (recreational and drinking water), that have been contaminated with the feces from infected humans and animals. This recreational water is generally contaminated by sewage or feces. It can live in the intestine of humans and animals and is passed in the stool of an infected person or animal. The parasite is protected by an outer shell that allows it to survive outside the body for long periods of time and makes it very resistant to chlorine-based disinfectants. 

                   Healthy immune systems usually allow recovery without treatment. To help with the diarrhea problem, it is recommended to drink lots of fluids to reduce dehydration. If the disease is not naturally fought, there are anti-diarrheal medicines. Simple things such as washing one's hands before touching their mouths, food, and water, are easy steps to prevent the spread. Nitazoanide (an antiprotozoal agent), purifying drinking water, and limiting swimming in public water can help too.

Cryptosporidium- Animal Planet Video

Giardia

Giardia is a microscopic parasite that causes diarrheal illness now as giardiasis. Giardia is found on surfaces or in soil and food that has been contaminated with feces. The parasite can survive outside the body for long periods of time and is tolerant to chlorine disinfection.

 

The parasite is found in the intestine track in the human body. It causes the body to lose the ability to absorb fats obtained from food. Symptoms include abdominal pains, cramps , watery diarrhea, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, and low fever. It can result in poor nutrition and weight loss. Symptoms normally begin 1 or 3 weeks after being infected and continue for 2 to 6 weeks. However, some people who are infected never develop symptoms but still carry and spread the parasite.

Human and animal waste enters the water through sewage overflows, sewage systems that are not working properly, polluted storm water runoff, and agricultural runoff.

Those who have giardia without symptoms usually do not need to be treated unless they are likely to spread the parasite. Metronidazole is the most commonly used medication to treat Giardia. To prevent yourself from being infected with Giardia, only drink water that has been treated, do not drink from fresh water streams or lakes without boiling or filtering water, and do not brush your teeth with tap water that may be contaminated.

 

Shigella

       Shigella is an extremely contagious bacterium commonly known as shigellosis. Shigella is found in every part of the United States and throughout the world. Shigella is found more in recreational water rather than drinking water and has become the most common cause of waterborne outbreaks in the United States.

      People who have been exposed to Shigellosis may suffer symptoms such as diarrhea (often bloody), fever, and stomach cramps; which normally resolves in five to seven days. Those who have been infected with the Shigella bacterium do not require hospitalization. Severe infections with a high fever may result in seizures in children less than two years old. Some people who become infected with Shigella suffer no symptoms, but still can pass the bacteria to others.
    
      Although the bacterium Shigella is most commonly found in recreational water it still can find its way into our drinking water. Some ways this may happen is through sewage overflows, sewage systems not working properly, or polluted storm water runoff. Wells that are flooded, shallow, been dug or bored is also another way this highly contagious bacterium can enter our water.

Once Shigella has entered our water we must find ways to get rid of it. One way to kill this bacterium in small amounts would be to boil the water for one minute then allow it to cool followed by storing it in a clean sanitized tightly sealed container and end this process by refrigerating it. Another idea would be to use an ultraviolent light-based device that is designed to inactivate bacteria in drinking water. If neither of these processes is available treating the infected water with iodine tablets could be another solution, but only result to this if it is an emergency because it is not the safest way to clean infected water.

For More Information: http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/shigellosis/

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/wells/disease/shigella.html

 
http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cryptosporidium/DS00907

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000617.htm

cdc.gov/parasites/giardia

buzzel.com

mayoclinic.com