Sami BENHAYOUNE

Global changes are increasing the risk of pathology due to microbiological water contamination, particularly by the protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium spp. These pathogens are found in all types of aquatic environments and cause major public health risks. Previous studies have demonstrated the ability of the filter-feeding bivalve Dreissena polymorpha to bioaccumulate T. gondii and C. parvum from contaminated water. A positive relationship has been established between protozoan loads in zebra mussels and exposure level. However, mass balance calculations remain low, suggesting potential analytical limitations in biota and/or an impact of zebra mussels on protozoan integrity and viability. 

My PhD project (DISPEAU), which is partly integrated into the ORION project, aims to : 

1. Overcome analytical challenges to optimize protozoan recovery rates from zebra mussel tissues.
2. Improve our understanding of the effects of zebra mussel physiological processes on protozoan viability. 

This research will contribute to using the zebra mussel as a tool for assessing health risks associated with water bodies.