UV-LIGHT INACTIVATION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM OOCYSTS

Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts are highly resistant to conventional ch lorine-based disinfectants. The authors tested two innovative electrot echnologies that use ultraviolet (UV) light and found that both pulsed UV and advanced UV inactivated Cryptosporidium oocysts. The advanced UV system achieved >4-log inactivation as determine-dill animal infect ivity studies using the neonatal mouse model, With the pulsed UV syste m, oocyst inactivation was also noted in the process control (non-UV- exposed oocysts), suggesting that some oocyst inactivation may have oc curred independently of UV exposure. Irrespective of this, both techno logies appear to be effective and novel walls to treat drinking water and to provide an additional significant barrier that helps protect pu blic health.