Editing Cryptosporidium (section)

== Water treatment and detection ==
Many [[Water purification|treatment plants]] that take raw water from [[river]]s, [[lake]]s, and [[reservoir (water)|reservoirs]] for public [[drinking water]] production use conventional filtration technologies. Direct filtration, which is typically used to treat water with low [[suspended solids|particulate]] levels, includes coagulation and filtration but not sedimentation. Other common filtration processes including [[slow sand filter]]s,  [[Diatomaceous earth#Filtration|diatomaceous earth filters]], and membranes will remove 99% of ''Cryptosporidium''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/safewater/mdbp/ieswtrwhatdoesitmeantoyou.pdf |title=The Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule – What Does it Mean to You? |publisher=USEPA |access-date=2007-05-06}}</ref> Membranes and bag- and cartridge-filter products remove ''Cryptosporidium'' specifically.

''Cryptosporidium'' is highly resistant to chlorine disinfection;<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Korich DG, Mead JR, Madore MS, Sinclair NA, Sterling CR | title = Effects of ozone, chlorine dioxide, chlorine, and monochloramine on Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst viability | journal = Applied and Environmental Microbiology | volume = 56 | issue = 5 | pages = 1423–8 | date = May 1990 | pmid = 2339894 | pmc = 184422 | url = }}</ref> but with high enough concentrations and contact time, ''Cryptosporidium'' inactivation will occur with [[Chlorine dioxide#Water treatment|chlorine dioxide]] and [[Ozone#Applications 2|ozone]] treatment. In general, the required levels of chlorine preclude the use of chlorine disinfection as a reliable method to control ''Cryptosporidium'' in drinking water. Ultraviolet light treatment at relatively low doses will inactivate ''Cryptosporidium''. [[Calgon Carbon]]-funded research originally discovered UV's efficacy in inactivating ''Cryptosporidium''.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bolton, JR, Dussert, B, Bukhari, Z, Hargy, TM, Clancy, JL | title = Inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum by Medium-Pressure Ultraviolet Light in Finished Drinking Water | journal = Proc. AWWA 1998 Annual Conference, Dallas, TX | volume = A | pages = 389–403 | year = 1998 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Bukhari Z, Hargy TM, Bolton JR, Dussert B, Clancy JL | title = Medium Pressure UV Light for Oocyst Inactivation | journal = Journal of the American Water Works Association | volume = 91 | issue = 3 | pages = 86–94 | year = 1999 | doi = 10.1002/j.1551-8833.1999.tb08602.x }}</ref>

One of the largest challenges in identifying outbreaks is the ability to verify the results in a [[laboratory]].  The oocytes may be seen by microscopic examination of a stool sample, but they may be confused with other objects or artifacts similar in appearance.<ref name=Lab_Dx>{{cite journal | vauthors = Casemore DP, Armstrong M, Sands RL | title = Laboratory diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis | journal = Journal of Clinical Pathology | volume = 38 | issue = 12 | pages = 1337–41 | date = December 1985 | pmid = 2416782 | pmc = 499488 | doi = 10.1136/jcp.38.12.1337 }}</ref> Most cryptosporidia are 3–6 μm in size, although some reports have described larger cells.<ref name=Lab_Dx />

Boiling is believed to be the safest option for water contaminated by ''Cryptosporidium''.<ref>{{cite web | title = Boil water warning 'precaution' | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7589839.stm | work = BBC News | date =  2 September 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Boil water 'into January' warning | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4484946.stm | work = BBC News | date = 30 November 2005 }}</ref>