Cryptosporidium — Biotechnological advances in the detection, diagnosis and analysis of genetic variation
Cryptosporidiosis is predominantly a gastrointestinal disease of humans and other animals, caused by various species of protozoan parasites representing the genus Cryptosporidium. This disease, transmitted mainly via the faecal–oral route (in water or food), is of major socioeconomic importance worl...
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Published in | Biotechnology advances Vol. 26; no. 4; pp. 304 - 317 |
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Main Authors | , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford
Elsevier Inc
01.07.2008
New York, NY Elsevier |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Cryptosporidiosis is predominantly a gastrointestinal disease of humans and other animals, caused by various species of protozoan parasites representing the genus
Cryptosporidium. This disease, transmitted mainly
via the faecal–oral route (in water or food), is of major socioeconomic importance worldwide. The diagnosis and genetic characterization of the different species and population variants (usually recognised as “genotypes” or “subgenotypes”) of
Cryptosporidium is central to the prevention, surveillance and control of cryptosporidiosis, particularly given that there is presently no broadly applicable treatment regimen for this disease. Although traditional phenotypic techniques have had major limitations in the specific diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis, there have been major advances in the development of molecular analytical and diagnostic tools. This article provides a concise account of
Cryptosporidium and cryptosporidiosis, and focuses mainly on recent advances in nucleic acid-based approaches for the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis and analysis of genetic variation within and among species of
Cryptosporidium. These advances represent a significant step toward an improved understanding of the epidemiology as well as the prevention and control of cryptosporidiosis. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-2 ObjectType-Feature-3 ObjectType-Review-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 |
ISSN: | 0734-9750 1873-1899 |
DOI: | 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2008.02.003 |