Giardia and Food Plants

[Nyboy]

On a thread @majorcatfish was asked if he drank out of his stream. He bought up the possablity of giardia ( beaver fever) in the water. Which now has me wondering if natural body of water is used for irrigation, and has giardia can that be passed to food crop? I was planning on using a stream to water my orchard, can trees pass giardia to people in their fruit? I know every now and then vegetables get recalled because of diease passed to people.

 

[so lucky]

I think those instances of giardia from produce have been traced to the people handling the produce during harvest.

 

[majorcatfish]

so lucky is so right poor handling/sanitation of fresh produce is the main reason people get sick. we wash everything we buy produce wise.. like the old saying when in doubt wash it......
as for using the steam to water you should be safe, but you might want to take a sample and have it tested who know whats else is in the water....

 

[Nyboy]

In the spring with snow melt it can be fast moving and clean. By mid summer whole other story sluggish, stagnant, smelly and brown.

 

[digitS']

I'm really out of my depth here ...

Horticulturalist I know was talking to me about plants metabolizing not just nutrients but other compounds, as well. Plants are busy with life processes.

The chemical world around them isn't usually just absorbed and left unaltered. But, we all knew this, didn't we?

Steve

 

[majorcatfish]

that water sounds pure nasty in the summer....

 

[Nyboy]

YEP NASTY

 

[thistlebloom]

Okay, just a heads up here before I say anything - I am not an expert!


Since giardia is a parasite that lives in the small intestine of infected people and animals and is passed out in the feces, I don't think irrigating your orchard with your stream would be a problem.
What I'm trying to say is that plants aren't hosts, but the parasite can be on the surface of plants if they aren't handled correctly. Like others pointed out.
Apparently the cysts can survive months in cold water.

Don't use overhead watering and you won't have to worry about it getting on the fruits surface that way.

Oh, and fast moving and fresh looking water is not necessarily free from giardia btw. Always use a good filter when drinking from those beautiful mountain streams. Just in case.

 

[majorcatfish]

Okay, just a heads up here before I say anything - I am not an expert!


Since giardia is a parasite that lives in the small intestine of infected people and animals and is passed out in the feces, I don't think irrigating your orchard with your stream would be a problem.
What I'm trying to say is that plants aren't hosts, but the parasite can be on the surface of plants if they aren't handled correctly. Like others pointed out.
Apparently the cysts can survive months in cold water.

Don't use overhead watering and you won't have to worry about it getting on the fruits surface that way.

Oh, and fast moving and fresh looking water is not necessarily free from giardia btw. Always use a good filter when drinking from those beautiful mountain streams. Just in case.

oh you are so 100% right on your post.. nothing like getting "beaver fever" do not wish anyone to have the fun in experiencing this wonderful bug...
if you do decide to drink out of that spring or stream ..heres to you or
remember when forest gump's girlfriend said "run forest run" thats what your going to be doing......