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Journal of Water and Health Vol 08 No 1 pp 83–91 © IWA Publishing 2010 doi:10.2166/wh.2009.204 Photocatalytic inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum on nanostructured titanium dioxide filmsO. Sunnotel, R. Verdoold, P. S. M. Dunlop, W. J. Snelling, C. J. Lowery, J. S. G. Dooley, J. E. Moore and J. A. ByrneBiomedical Sciences Research Institute, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry BT52 1SA, UKNanotechnology and Integrated Bio-Engineering Centre (NIBEC), University of Ulster, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim BT37 0QB, UK Tel.: Northern Ireland Public Health Laboratory, Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast BT9 7AD, UK ABSTRACT Control of waterborne gastrointestinal parasites represents a major concern to water industries worldwide. In developed countries, pathogens in drinking water supplies are normally removed by sand filtration followed by chemical disinfection. Cryptosporidium spp. are generally resistant to common disinfection techniques and alternative control strategies are being sought. In the current study, the photocatalytic inactivation of C. parvum oocysts was shown to occur in buffer solution (78.4% after 180 min) and surface water (73.7% after 180 min). Viability was assessed by dye exclusion, excystation, direct examination of oocysts and a novel gene expression assay based on lactate dehydrogenase 1 (LDH1) expression levels. Collectively, this confirmed the inactivation of oocysts and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed cleavage at the suture line of oocyst cell walls, revealing large numbers of empty (ghost) cells after exposure to photocatalytic treatment. Keywords: Cryptosporidium; photocatalysis; titanium dioxide; viability; water treatment eProduct: Buy this article for £24.00 (IWA MEMBER PRICE: £18.00) All prices include VAT. For customers where VAT should not be applied, the VAT amount will be removed upon payment |
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