New Diagnostic Tests for Amebiasis Including Antigen and Antibody Detection and Real Time PCR

Abstract

A screening test was done to detect the three most common intestinal protozoan parasites (Giardia lamblia, Cryptococcus spp. and Entamoeba histolytica). They are present in up to 10% of all stool samples submitted to reference laboratories, they are important pathogens in children in developing countries such as Nepal, and they share the characteristics of food water-borne transmission, a low infectious dose, and environmental stability. They often have a similar clinical presentation. Microscopic diagnosis of these parasites is neither sensitive nor specific. In contrast more specific and sensitive alternate molecular methods (PCR and antigen detection test) were introduced for all three of these parasitic infections. The objective of the research is a rapid diagnostic screen for the Giardia, Cryptosporidium, and E. histolytica in human stool specimens.