Survival of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts in the presence of hydrated lime.

Abstract

To investigate the effects of hydrated lime on the survival of Cryptosporidium oocysts, the percentage viability of oocysts was assessed using fluorescent in situ hybridisation. In the absence of lime and with lime at a concentration of 1 per cent, there was a gradual decline in oocyst viability during the 10-day trial. Although the addition of 5 or 10 per cent lime caused the total number of oocysts to decrease, there appeared to be an increase in the proportion of potentially viable oocysts.