An Irish research team has been asked to co-ordinate an EU study into a parasite which is the cause of increasing public health problems. It is believed to be the second most common cause of food poisoning in the Republic.
The parasite - cryptosporidium microbe - is found in the intestines of cattle and sheep, and is spread through contaminated water or food. The £2.2 million project over three years will be co-ordinated by scientists at the National Food Centre in Castle knock, Co Dublin. It will by supported by the EU's fifth frame work research programme.
The project has been commissioned amid growing evidence of cryptosporidium's ability to withstand disinfection, standard water treatment and chlorination including treatment of swimming pool waters. Its potency is underlined by its ability to cause infection with just a handful of microscopic spores.
Cryptosporidium causes severe diarrhoeal infection and associated symptoms such as fever, nausea and abdominal pain. Most people recover within about one week.
However, the impact can be more serious among older people, the very young and those whose immune system is suppressed, especially those living with AIDS. In such cases, the effects if cryptosporidium may be fatal. Dr Geraldine Duffy of the National Food Centre - a facility run by the agricultural research body Teagasc - is to lead scientists from Northern Ireland, Britain, the Netherlands, Italy and Denmark in the project. Irish Food Processors will also assist in the research.
The object will be to evaluate how best to control the spread of cryptosporidium microbes. Dr Duffy is already co-ordinating a similar EU study on the notorious E.coli O157 bug.
The director of the National Food Centre, Dr Vivion Tarrant, said the selection of Teagasc to lead the research was an indication of the organisation's expertise in food research, particularly in food safety.
