UV light inactivation of Cryptosporidium oocysts

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Abstract
Animal infectivity studies demonstrate the efficacy of pulsed and advanced UV in inactivating Cryptosporidium oocysts.Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts are highly resistant to conventional chlorine‐based disinfectants. The authors tested two innovative electrotechnologies that use ultraviolet (UV) light and found that both pulsed UV and advanced UV inactivated Cryptosporidium oocysts. The advanced UV system achieved >4‐log inactivation as determined in animal infectivity studies using the neonatal mouse model. With the pulsed UV system, oocyst inactivation was also noted in the process control (non‐UV‐exposed oocysts), suggesting that some oocyst inactivation may have occurred independently of UV exposure. Irrespective of this, both technologies appear to be effective and novel ways to treat drinking water and to provide an additional significant barrier that helps protect public health.
Funding Information
  • American Water Works Association Research Foundation
  • Electric Power Research Institute