Detection of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in topsoils and faecal samples from urban parks in Leicester, UK.

Aims The main aim of this study was to detect the occurrence of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in soils and faecal samples in Leicester, UK, as a preliminary study in this area to assess possible impacts on human health.

Methods and results 18 faecal and 9 soil samples were collected in public parks and recreation areas close to Leicester centre city between January and February 2016 following the methodology described by Dado et al. (2012). A veterinarian identified the possible animal species of the stool samples: 8 avian (pigeons and water birds), 6 dogs, 3 cats and 2 unidentified due to diarrhoea. The immunoassay ImmunoCard STAT!® was used to detect the presence of Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium parvum (Elsafi et al., 2013). Kinyoun's acid-fast staining was also performed to detect Cryptosporidium spp. (Dado et al., 2012). Only one of the dog’s faecal samples was positive for Giardia for the immunoassay. We also found structures that may be related with Cryptosporidium in one of the faecal smears from a different dog’s sample.

Conclusions Although Giardia duodenalis has been detected in only one of the 18 faecal samples collected, this result could indicate the presence of this enteropathogen in the areas of the city monitored. The presence of Cryptosporidium spp. in only one sample may be related with the circulation of these parasites in the environment as a significant reduction in the incidence of cryptosporidiosis has been reported in winter in the UK (PHE, 2013).

Significance of study Both pathogens have a wide range of host species, including companion animals, but the size of this risk is not well known. A clear understanding of the size of this risk is important to set up intervention programmes to protect human health, especially in urban environments, due to the exponential urban development.

References Dado, D, Izquierdo, F, Vera, O, Montoya, A, Mateo, M, Fenoy, S, Galván, AL, García, S, García, A, Aránguez, E, López, L, del Águila, C, Miró, G (2012). Detection of zoonotic intestinal parasites in public parks of Spain. Potential epidemiological role of microsporidia. Zoonoses Public Health; 59(1):23-8 Elsafi, SH, Al-Maqati, TN, Hussein, MI, Adam, AA, Hassan, MM and Al Zahrani, EM (2013). Comparison of microscopy, rapid immunoassay, and molecular techniques for the detection of Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium parvum. Parasitol Res; 112(4):1641-6 PHE (Public Health England) (2013). Cryptosporidium: statistics 2000 to 2012. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cryptosporidium-statistics-2000-to-2012