Occurrence of Cryptosporidium sp oocysts in fecal and water samples in Austria

Oocysts of Cryptosporidium spp. were detected and differentiated by a modul ar arranged gene amplification procedure in various samples, mostly human s tool, feces of herpetotaxa, and water, in different locations of South and Eastern Austria. Cryptosporidium parvum was found in stool samples of immun ocompromised persons, in reptile feces, and in water samples. The presence of Cryptosporidium in an area is probably associated with high human popula tion densities since water from protected sources in sparsely inhabited are as is rarely contaminated. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserv ed.