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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2003, p. 102-106, Vol. 69, No. 1
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.1.102-106.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Development and Application of Different Methods for the Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in Water

Christina Kourenti,1 Anja Heckeroth,2 Astrid Tenter,2 and Panagiotis Karanis1,3*

Institute for Medical Parasitology, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn,1 Institute for Parasitology, Veterinary School of Hanover, D-30559 Hanover,2 Parasitology Group, Medical School, University of Cologne, Centre of Anatomy, Institute II, 50931 Cologne, Germany3

Received 17 May 2002/ Accepted 23 October 2002

Two methods, centrifugation and flocculation, were evaluated to determine their efficiencies of recovery of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts from contaminated water samples. Demineralized and tap water replicates were inoculated with high numbers of sporulated or unsporulated T. gondii oocysts (1 x 105 and 1 x 104 oocysts). The strain, age, and concentration of the seeded oocysts were recorded. Oocysts were recovered either by centrifugation of the contaminated samples at various g values or by flocculation with two coagulants, Fe2(SO4)3 and Al2(SO4)3. The recovery rates were determined with the final pellets by phase-contrast microscopy. Sporulated oocysts were recovered more effectively by flocculation with Al2(SO4)3 (96.5% ± 21.7%) than by flocculation with Fe2(SO4)3 (93.1% ± 8.1%) or by centrifugation at 2,073 x g (82.5% ± 6.8%). For the unsporulated oocysts, flocculation with Fe2(SO4)3 was more successful (100.3% ± 26.9%) than flocculation with Al2(SO4)3 (90.4% ± 19.1%) or centrifugation at 2,565 x g (97.2% ± 12.5%). The infectivity of the sporulated oocysts recovered by centrifugation was confirmed by seroconversion of all inoculated mice 77 days postinfection. These data suggest that sporulated Toxoplasma oocysts purified by methods commonly used for waterborne pathogens retain their infectivity after mechanical treatment and are able to induce infections in mammals. This is the first step in developing a systematic approach for the detection of Toxoplasma oocysts in water.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Parasitology Group, Medical School, University of Cologne, Centre of Anatomy, Institute II, Joseph-Stelzmann Strasse 9, 50931 Cologne, Germany. Phone: 49-221-478-5817. Fax: 49-221-478-3808. E-mail: Panagiotis.Karanis{at}medizin.uni-koeln.de.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January 2003, p. 102-106, Vol. 69, No. 1
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.1.102-106.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Villena, I., Aubert, D., Gomis, P., Ferte, H., Inglard, J.-C., Denis-Bisiaux, H., Dondon, J.-M., Pisano, E., Ortis, N., Pinon, J.-M. (2004). Evaluation of a Strategy for Toxoplasma gondii Oocyst Detection in Water. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 4035-4039 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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