• Jun 02, 2015
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  • by Alex Tiscareno

Microbial Cysts and Protozoan. You might not know that microbial cysts enter water supplies from animal feces; you probably do know that anything which comes from animal feces shouldn’t be in your drinking water.

Microbial Cysts:

Both giardia and cryptosporidium are microbial cysts, sometimes referred to as protozoan — and they are tough to disinfect. What makes them tough is the way they operate. These microbes grow a cyst wall around themselves for protection in unfavorable conditions. When giardia and cryptosporidium reach more favorable environments like your stomach, their cyst walls break down and the microbes inside them release to potentially cause gastrointestinal illness like diarrhea, nausea and stomach cramps. According to the EPA, cryptosporidium is resistant to disinfection.

Effects On Your Health:

  • Cryptosporidium - A microbial cyst that is commonly found in lakes and rivers that can cause gastrointestinal illness. It enters the water through animal and human fecal matter.
  • Giardia - The microbial cyst giardia is a one-cell parasite that infects humans and animals in the cyst stage of their life cycle. It enters the water through animal and human fecal matter.