Erster Giardiasisausbruch im Zusammenhang mit kontaminiertem Trinkwasser in Deutschland

Worldwide, outbreaks of Giardiasis associated with drinking water have been reported since 1965. The present work describes for the first time an association between reported Giardiasis cases and the occurrence of the microorganisms in drinking water in Germany. After a small community reported a suspicious increase in the occurrence of Giardiasis an analysis of drinking water showed the presence of Giardia lamblia. Field survey and further microbiological analyses allowed to identify possible point sources of infection in the catchment area of the water source. Experience from other countries shows that there is a correlation between outbreaks of parasite-linked diseases associated with drinking water and an increased parasite contamination of source water combined with inadequacies of water treatment. In the currently described case it cannot be ruled out that a relative high parasite concentration in one of the used water wells, an insufficient protection of the water-catchment area, a missing filtration step of water treatment and an insufficient systematic microbiological monitoring of the used wells have caused the Giardiasis outbreak.