Parásitos protozoarios entéricos en ambientes acuáticos: Métodos de concentración y detección

Waterborne transmission of pathogenic parasitic protozoa represents one of the most prominent public health issues worldwide. Studies on occurrence of waterborne protozoan parasites are fundamental to the understanding of the epidemiology of waterborne diseases affecting human populations in different geographical regions. Thus, public health measures can be implemented to control and to prevent waterborne infectious diseases. Current methods for monitoring waterborne Cryptosporidium parvum, C. hominis and Giardia intestinalis are being applied for assessing the occurrence of waterborne Toxoplasma gondii and Cyclospora cayetanensis. The combination of novel filtration and concentration techniques along with molecular and tissue cell culture methods is part of the approach aimed to evaluate the public health significance of current and emerging waterborne pathogens. This paper reviews recent advances in concentration and detection methods that could be applied to assess occurrence of waterborne protozoan parasites in Latin America, where further research in this field is needed.