CHARACTERISATION OF THE PARASITE LOAD OF RIVER BISTRITA TRIBUTARIES IN THE DORNELOR BASIN

Abstract

Dornelor Basin in Romania is characterised by numerous high-quality water sources. The study provides provide data on the occurrence and human infective potential of Giardia and Cryptosporidium, as the most important water-borne parasites, from Bistrița River tributaries of Dornelor Basin, northeastern Romania. Water samples were collected from 10 tributaries of the Bistrita River, from the level of sampling stations set upstream and downstream from anthropic communities. The samples were further processed using non-molecular methods to isolate (oo)cysts. Subsequently, the isolated Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)ccysts were molecularly characterised through PCR and genomic sequencing, which led to the identification of Giardia to identify them at species level. The outcomes revealed that the waters of the emissaries under study have a low parasite load and that, upstream from the human settlements, the water is pure when related to the protozoa under study. The increased loads of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. corresponded to animal husbandry activity. The obtained results underline a potential public health risk.