Rima Shrestha

Citation

Thesis Title
Molecular Epidemiology of Waterborne Zoonoses in North Island of New Zealand

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Campylobacteriosis, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis are important waterborne zoonotic pathogens of global public health concern. Mrs Shrestha's research investigated the presence of these pathogens in the faeces of domestic ruminants and in surface water used for recreational or drinking purposes in New Zealand. She used microbiological, molecular and statistical skills and tools, and identified ruminant-associated Campylobacter jejuni in water during winter. Her research provided the first molecular epidemiological data on Giardia subtypes in water and in ruminants' faeces and on multiple Cryptosporidium species infections in calves. In addition, next-generation sequencing technology was used to develop a modified but novel Campylobacter species typing method “massMLST” and to analyse metagenomes in surface water samples. Her research contributes to better understand the role of ruminants in surface water contamination, and provides valuable scientific data to inform public health decision-makers about the risks of extracting drinking water from surface water in rural areas.

Supervisors
Dr Alex Grinberg
Dr Evelyn Pleydell
Dr Debbie Prattley
Distinguished Professor Nigel French
Professor Patrick Biggs