PCR amplification and species determination of microsporidia in formalin-fixed feces after immunomagnetic separation.

ABSTRACT: The term microsporidia is used to describe several species of opportunistic protozoan parasites. Encephalitozoon intestinalis and Enterocytozoon bieneusi have been found in stools of more than 40% of AIDS patients with diarrhea. Diagnosis of infection with these small protozoans has been difficult, and until recently their occurrence has not been well documented. Formalin is widely used to preserve clinical specimens, but due to the nature of the fixation process, subsequent analysis, especially analysis by the PCR, is difficult. This study evaluated methods used to prepare formalin-fixed fecal specimens for PCR amplification of microsporidial DNA. Two methods were devised to allow PCR detection and subsequent identification of microsporidia in formalin-fixed fecal specimens to the species

SUBMITTER: Dowd SE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC124713 | biostudies-literature | 1998 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature