Real-time PCR assay targeting the actin gene for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum in calf fecal samples
Cryptosporidium parvum infection is very important with respect to public health, owing to foodborne and waterborne outbreaks and gastrointestinal illness in immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. In cattle, infection with this species manifests either as a subclinical disease or with diarrh...
Saved in:
Published in | Parasitology research (1987) Vol. 110; no. 5; pp. 1741 - 1745 |
---|---|
Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Berlin/Heidelberg
Springer-Verlag
01.05.2012
Springer |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
Cover
Loading…
Summary: | Cryptosporidium parvum
infection is very important with respect to public health, owing to foodborne and waterborne outbreaks and gastrointestinal illness in immunocompetent and immunocompromised persons. In cattle, infection with this species manifests either as a subclinical disease or with diarrheal illness, which occurs more often in the presence of other infectious agents than when alone. The aim of this study was to develop a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of
C. parvum
in calf fecal samples and to compare the results of this assay with those of the method routinely used for the diagnosis of
Cryptosporidium
spp., nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Two hundred and nine fecal samples from calves ranging in age from 1 day to 6 months were examined using real-time PCR specific for the actin gene of
C. parvum
and by a nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene of
Cryptosporidium
spp. Using real-time PCR detection, 73.2% (153 out of 209) of the samples were positive for
C. parvum
, while 56.5% (118 out of 209) of the samples were positive for
Cryptosporidium
spp. when the nested PCR amplification method was used for the detection. The analytical sensitivity of the real-time PCR was approximately one
C. parvum
oocyst. There was no significant nonspecific DNA amplification of any of the following species and genotype:
Cryptosporidium andersoni
,
Cryptosporidium baileyi
,
Cryptosporidium bovis
,
Cryptosporidium canis
,
Cryptosporidium galli
,
Cryptosporidium ryanae
,
Cryptosporidium serpentis
, or avian genotype II. Thus, we conclude that real-time PCR targeting the actin gene is a sensitive and specific method for the detection of
C. parvum
in calf fecal samples. |
---|---|
Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Undefined-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0932-0113 1432-1955 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00436-011-2694-8 |