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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, September 2006, p. 6242-6247, Vol. 72, No. 9
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00344-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Capture and Retention of Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts by Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms

Kristin E. Searcy,1 Aaron I. Packman,1* Edward R. Atwill,2 and Thomas Harter3

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208,1 Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California—Davis, Tulare, California 93274,2 Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources, University of California—Davis, Davis, California 956163

Received 12 February 2006/ Accepted 16 May 2006

The association of Cryptosporidium oocysts with biofilm communities can influence the propagation of this pathogen through both environmental systems and water treatment systems. We observed the capture and retention of C. parvum oocysts in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms using laboratory flow cells. Biofilms were developed in two different growth media using two different strains of P. aeruginosa, a wild-type strain (PAO1) and a strain that overproduces the exopolysaccharide alginate (PDO300). Confocal laser-scanning microscopy was used in conjunction with image analysis to assess the structure of the biofilms prior to introducing oocysts into the flow cells. More oocysts were captured by the biofilm-coated surfaces than the abiotic glass surface in both media. There was no significant difference in capture across the two strains of P. aeruginosa biofilm, but the fraction of oocysts captured was positively related to biofilm roughness and surface-area-to-volume ratio. Once captured, oocysts were retained in the biofilm for more than 24 h and were not released after a 40-fold increase in the system flow rate. We believe the capture and retention of oocysts by biofilm communities can impact the environmental transmission of C. parvum, and this interaction should be taken into consideration when predicting the migration of pathogens in the environment.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208. Phone: (847) 491-9902. Fax: (847) 491-4011. E-mail: a-packman{at}northwestern.edu.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, September 2006, p. 6242-6247, Vol. 72, No. 9
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.00344-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Wolyniak, E. A., Hargreaves, B. R., Jellison, K. L. (2009). Retention and Release of Cryptosporidium parvum Oocysts by Experimental Biofilms Composed of a Natural Stream Microbial Community. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 4624-4626 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Helmi, K., Skraber, S., Gantzer, C., Willame, R., Hoffmann, L., Cauchie, H.-M. (2008). Interactions of Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, Vaccinal Poliovirus Type 1, and Bacteriophages {phi}X174 and MS2 with a Drinking Water Biofilm and a Wastewater Biofilm. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 2079-2088 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Merod, R. T., Warren, J. E., McCaslin, H., Wuertz, S. (2007). Toward Automated Analysis of Biofilm Architecture: Bias Caused by Extraneous Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy Images. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 4922-4930 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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