New Molecular Assay Diagnoses Eight Gastrointestinal Parasites

A novel, rapid, high-throughput quantitative multiparallel real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) platform has been developed for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites.

Species-specific primers/probes were used for eight common gastrointestinal parasite pathogens: Ascaris lumbricoides, Necator americanus, Ancylostoma duodenale, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium spp., Entamoeba histolytica, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis.

The qPCR was able to distinguish between patients without parasites and those with polyparasitism more accurately and with greater detection rates than direct smear microscopy.

Read more:
A Novel, Multi-Parallel, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Approach for Eight Gastrointestinal Parasites Provides Improved Diagnostic Capabilities to Resource-Limited At-Risk Populations

Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Image credits: Parasite Gal

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