Do iodine water purification tablets provide an effective barrier against Cryptosporidium parvum?

Mil Med. 2005 Jan;170(1):83-6. doi: 10.7205/milmed.170.1.83.

Abstract

U.S. Army Iodine Water Purification Tablets were tested to determine their efficacy against Cryptosporidium parvum, a protozoan resistant to chemical disinfection. Purified oocysts in phosphate-buffered water were treated with varying concentrations of iodine or with iodine tablets as per U.S. Army protocol. Neonatal mouse pups were then each inoculated with 10,000 treated oocysts, and 1 week later scored as infected or uninfected. Using this methodology, iodine tablets were found to be inadequate against C. parvum because the Army doctrinal dose of 560 mg min/L, calculated as 16 mg of I2/L and 35 minutes of contact time, showed less than 1 log inactivation. A dose of 29 mg of I2/L at the same contact time was required to achieve a 2 log inactivation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cryptosporidiosis / parasitology
  • Cryptosporidiosis / prevention & control*
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / drug effects*
  • Disinfectants / pharmacology*
  • Iodine / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Military Medicine*
  • Safety
  • Tablets
  • United States
  • Water / analysis
  • Water / parasitology*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Disinfectants
  • Tablets
  • Water
  • Iodine