Presence and distribution of <i>Giardia</i> cysts in New Zealand waters

Abstract

Giardia intestinalis cyst monitoring programmes from New Zealand waters were carried out between 30 March 1990 and 1 August 1991. Giardia cysts were found in 135 of 412 samples (33%). The corresponding cyst concentrations ranged from 0.0 to 45.06 cysts per 100 1. Cyst recovery efficiency using seeded samples ranged from 26 to 75% using a membrane‐filtration/immuno‐fluorescence assay procedure. Test sensitivities ranged from &lt; 0.02 to &lt; 5.0 cysts per 100 1. No definite distribution pattern resulted.