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Abstract
Irrigation water samples were analyzed for the presence of C. cayetanensis, Cryptosporidium spp., and G. duodenalis. No association was found between parasite detection and climate (avg. temperature and rainfall). There were six total sampling locations on three different rivers. Locations 3 and 6, were associated with increased Giardia and Cyclospora-like collection. Giardia detection was associated with Autumn (October-December); Cyclospora-like and Cryptosporidium spp. detection was associated with Spring (April-June). Water and biofilm sampling were not significantly different from each other. Comparisons of filter to swab, filter to brush, and brush to swab yielded no difference in parasite collection between tools. Biofilm sampling can replace water sampling for parasite detection regardless of tool utilized. MLST did not amplify Cyclospora positive environmental samples. Sampling for Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium spp. should occur during Spring when clinical cases of Cyclospora and calving season are high, particularly for produce farms downstream of cities or animal farms.