MSU Studies Track DNA of Cryptosporidium in River Raisin Waters

-- CAFO Drain Tests at Extremely High Levels (49,900 oocysts/100ml)

-- Crypto in 7 of 8 Samples at Drinking Water Intake Sites Linked to Cattle

-- At least 3 cases of Cryptosporidiosis reported locally

Two recent reports prepared by MSU water researchers Stephanie Molloy and Joan Rose, international expert on the Cryptosporidium, describe their DNA genotyping of the pathogen in water samples that tested positive at several sites in the River Raisin and in a Lenawee County CAFO drain. The majority of the samples, including those at Adrian, Blissfield, and Deerfield Water Works influent, track to cattle/bovine sources.

Researchers initially sampled Rice Lake Drain at a dairy CAFO in Fall 2004, and from December 2004 - Feb 2005 conducted studies at River Raisin sites, including the Adrian, Blissfield, and Deerfield Water Works. While human contamination remains a concern in a few samples, tests show the majority of positive samples point to cattle/bovine sources.

Cryptosporidium, a pathogen that can cause serious diarrhea and sometimes death, was found at extremely high levels in water samples from Rice Lake Drain at Haley Rd, a River Raisin tributary, immediately downstream from VanderHoff Haley Dairy CAFO. Tests showed an average concentration of 10,866 oocysts/100L, with a high of 49,900 on Dec. 6, 2004. The sample on Dec. 6 showed infectivity in cell culture.  DNA testing found "the Cryptosporidium sequence from the white tile into Rice Lake drain collected on 12/7/04 has the closest relationship to sequences of the bovine genotype" (March 2005 MSU report to DEQ).

The two reports covering positive crypto samples, "Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium from Water Concentrates," were prepared by MSU's Stephanie Molloy and Joan Rose, Homer Nowlin Chair For Water Research.The MSU reports were obtained by ECCSCM from the DEQ through the Freedom of Information Act.

Crypto monitoring included a total of 55 samples, 34 from ambient surface waters and drain tiles, and 21 from Water Treatment intakes and finished waters. 21 samples (38%) were shown to contain crypto.  These findings are similar to the results of monitoring studies published in research literature, according the the DEQ Water Bureau. Treated drinking water was also sampled, and no oocysts were found.

In 7 of the 8 influent samples that tested positive for Cryptosporidium, MSU identified the top sequence match genotype as Cryptosporidium andersoni, a species found in cattle, with the highest concentration of 50.6 oocysts/100L at Blissfield Water Works inflent on 1/17/05.  "C. andersoni infects both juvenile and adult cattle and has a long oocyst shedding duration of months to years... The presence of this Cryptosporidium species indicates a probable cattle source of fecal contamination in these waters." (April 2005 MSU report to DEQ)

Of the positive samples in Rice Lake Drain, 2 showed presence of C. hominus, a human source; one species unknown in database; and 2 samples, including the infective 12/6/04 sampling, matched C. parvum, found in both human and animals, including cattle. Further DNA matching of this particular C. parvum on 12/7/04 showed the sequence linked to "the bovine genotype."

Shed in feces by animals, Cryptosporidium in surface water typically varies from 19-25 oocysts/100L in the United States, with 0.1 oocysts/100L in pristine waters. See average concentration for Cryptosporidium.

In 1993 in Milwaukee, 104 people died and 403,000 people were sickened from drinking water contaminated with Cryptosporidium. This pathogen forms a cyst with a tough, egg-like shell that makes it resistant to traditional chlorination.

At least 3 cases of Cryptosporidiosis were reported between Jan 2004 and  Dec. 2004 in this area -- 2 in the Hudson ZIP code area (49247) and 1 in Adrian (49221). One case raised the concern of a local doctor about the impact of CAFOs and Cryptosporidium. In a report sent to Michigan Community Health officials, ECCSCM member and nurse, Kathy Melmoth, noted:

April 25, 2005
In a phone conversation with a local physician ...he expressed “real concern about well water contamination" next to CAFO’s. He has seen one case of Cryptosporidiasis in [a child] that lives close to a CAFO. She had a positive stool sample. He stated the local health department was not able to determine cause.
--excerpt from "Health Impacts from CAFO (confined animal feeding operations) liquid manure application observed in Lenawee and Hillsdale County: Winter 2002- April 25, 2005"

Studies show humans have a 20 percent infection rate at 30 oocysts, a 40 percent infection rate at 100 oocysts.

Rice Lake Drain has been the site of repeated manure discharges, leading the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to file suit against the CAFO in August, 2004, because  of "at least" seven discharges of animal waste to the Rice Lake Drain and Bovee Drain.  The suit alleges that "these discharges contained pollutants at concentrations that may injure the public health and the environment." (see DEQ press release)

The Rice Lake Drain water sample on 10/22/04 tested at 2,600 oocysts/100L. This sample was taken just 5 days after an ECCSCM volunteer monitor reported unusual drainwork near the manure lagoon at VanderHoff Haley CAFO and contamination in Rice Lake Drain. On the same day, 10/17/04, the Dissolved Oxygen reading at the Rice Lake Drain site was well below fish-kill level, at 0.8mg/L.
 
DO reading, 10/17/04 at Rice Lake Drain         foul sheen on water, Rice Lake Drain, 10/17/04

According to a study by several Cryptosporidium experts including Dr. Joan Rose of MSU (whose lab conducted the Crypto testing and wrote reports to DEQ), raw waste effluent has average Cryptosporidium concentrations of 6,910 oocysts/100L...and 993/100L infectious oocysts.

Cryptosporidium can survive for more than a year in freezing temperatures, and for up to 10 weeks in warm water. (See more information on survival times in soils, frozen manure, warm manure, etc.)