HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE GAS PLASMA STERILIZATION IS EFFECTIVE AGAINST CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-PARVUM OOCYSTS

The aim of this work was to evaluate in an immunosuppressed rat crypto sporidiosis model a neu: method that combines vacuum and low-temperatu re hydrogen pa-oxide gas plasma for sterilization of endoscopic materi al contaminated by Cryptosporidium parvum. Rats were challenged with o ocysts either air-dried or air-dried and treated with vacuum alone or associated with gas plasma. No rat was found infected after gas plasma exposure of oocysts, whereas vacuum or air-drying alone resulted only in a decreased infectivity.