Santos A L, de Oliveira L T F, Souza A L A, Hauser-Davis R A, De Simone S G
Laboratório de Bioquímica Experimental e Computacional de Fármacos - IOC FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Escola Politécnica de Saúde Joaquim Venâncio - EPSJV - PROVOC - FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21045-900, Brazil.
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2018 Feb;100(2):240-244. doi: 10.1007/s00128-017-2223-2. Epub 2017 Nov 27.
Cryptosporidium spp. has been recognized as an important pathogen. As bivalve mollusks are noted as potential sources of several pathogens due to their consumption as foodstuffs, the aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts in Perna perna mussels and in seawater samples from a mussel farm in Southeastern Brazil, where mussels are grown directly in the sea, attached to ropes. Oocysts were observed by microscopy and confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Oocysts were present in mussel gills and GI tracts, as well as in the seawater. Of the 100 females, 10% and 11% showed contaminated GI tracts and gills, respectively, while this rate was lower in males, at 5% and 8.9%. Oocysts were present in higher amounts in the GI tract compared to gills and water. Contamination of the study area is apparent, leading to public health risks. More in-depth studies are needed, including molecular investigations, to identify Cryptosporidium species in mussels, as well as the implementation of monitoring actions in animals destined for human consumption.
隐孢子虫属已被公认为一种重要的病原体。由于双壳贝类作为食物被食用，被认为是多种病原体的潜在来源，本研究的目的是调查巴西东南部一个贻贝养殖场的翡翠贻贝和海水样本中隐孢子虫卵囊的存在情况，该养殖场的贻贝直接生长在海里，附着在绳索上。通过显微镜观察卵囊，并通过酶联免疫吸附测定进行确认。卵囊存在于贻贝的鳃和胃肠道以及海水中。在100只雌性贻贝中，分别有10%和11%的胃肠道和鳃被污染，而雄性贻贝的这一比例较低，分别为5%和8.9%。与鳃和水相比，胃肠道中的卵囊数量更多。研究区域的污染很明显，会导致公共卫生风险。需要进行更深入的研究，包括分子调查，以确定贻贝中的隐孢子虫种类，以及对供人类食用的动物实施监测行动。
