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Rangeland cattle and the risk of waterborne
Cryptosporidium parvum infection in humans

Microbial pathogens excreted by livestock and potentially transmitted to humans through water
(a non-technical overview)
Four conditions are necessary for disease-causing agents such as Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia duodenalis, Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. coli to be transmitted from livestock to humans, according to Dr. Rob Atwill. They must be shed by livestock, reach a water source such as a lake or stream, remain alive until ingested by a human and be in concentrations high enough to cause an infection in the human. While bacteria and protozoa carried by livestock can be a source of human infection, none of the viruses shed by livestock seem to pose a threat to human health in the United States, notes Dr. Atwill in this report.

News Article: "Medical Ecologist Investigates Risk of Waterborne Pathogens from Livestock" (PDF: 17K, 1p) Reprinted from Veterina ry Medicine News, Spring/Summer '97.

Medical Ecology & Environmental Animal Health: Articles on animal health issues published by Dr. Rob Atwill.

Cryptosporidiosis and diarrhea in calves (July 1997)

Cow/calf operations and prevalence of protozoal parasites in spring (September 1995)

Selenium in the Environment: Essential Nutrient, Potential Toxicant
Proceedings of a national symposium held in Sacramento, California, June 1-2, 1995. Contact Veterinary Medicine Extension at (530) 752-0854 for a 68-page copy of the proceedings. Take a look at the Contents and Introduction by Dr. John Maas.

© 1997, UC Regents