DRINKING-WATER AND PARASITES

Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, Isospo ra belli, Balantidium coli, and Microsporidia spp. are cosmopolitan pa rasites. They often cause diarrheal diseases. The waterborne transmiss ion of all these parasites is possible (4 1). Surface water supplies u sed for drinking water are potential sources of contamination. Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium spp. have received great attention in ind ustrialized countries during the last years because they are the etiol ogical agents of waterborne diseases. The life cycles of Giardia lambl ia and Cryptosporidium are described with a special reference to drink ing water technologies aimed at removing these parasites.