Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2012ND260B

Role of Agricultural Drainage on Transport of Cryptosporidium oocysts in North Dakota

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2012 Start Date: 2012-03-01 End Date: 2013-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $7,500 Total Non-Federal Funds: $15,000

Principal Investigators: Khan Eakalak, John McEvoy

Project Summary: The mechanism of Cryptosporidium transport in the environment remains poorly understood. Cattle and other livestock are reservoirs of human pathogenic Cryptosporidium species. Application of liquid manure to fields is a common practice in many North American farm operations. Fertilizing agricultural lands with manure contaminated with Cryptosporidium can result in cryptosporidiosis outbreaks. Severity of the public health concerns can be estimated by the fact that ingestion of contaminated water containing as few as 10 oocysts can lead to cryptosporidiosis. Surface runoff from agricultural fields and animal facilities contain Cryptosporidium which pose a health hazard for animals and humans. The Cryptosporidium from the runoff can settle in the sediments of the river. Spring thaw can affects the resuspension of Cryptosporidium affecting the quality of river water. Sudden snowmelts can mean higher streamflow causing floods and resuspension of Cryptosporidium. It is essential to study transport of Cryptosporidium in river sediments. The specific objectives of the proposed study are as follows: 1) To investigate adsorption and desorption of Cryptosporidium parvum on the soils obtained from agricultural fields in North Dakota. 2) To determine the effects of agricultural drainage systems on the transport of Cryptosporidium parvum through the soils obtained from agricultural fields in North Dakota by simulating subsurface tile drains in a soil box. 3) To study the transport of Cryptosporidium found in the manure applied to a subsurface drained agricultural field in North Dakota.