Ultrasonic treatment of Cryptosporidium oocysts.

The effect of 20 kHz ultrasound on the viability of Cryptosporidium oocysts was investigated. More than 90% of the dispersed Cryptosporidium oocysts could be deactivated in about 1.5 min of continuous sonication. In order to apply this technique to large quantities of contaminated water, quantitative filtration and redispersion of Cryptosporidium oocysts were investigated and found to be easily achievable. The estimated cost of sonication showed that the ultrasound treatment of Cryptosporidium oocysts contaminated water could be a very effective means of "deactivating" Cryptosporidium oocysts.