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. 1995 Jul;33(7):1739–1741. doi: 10.1128/jcm.33.7.1739-1741.1995

Identification of microsporidia in stool specimens by using PCR and restriction endonucleases.

D P Fedorko 1, N A Nelson 1, C P Cartwright 1
PMCID: PMC228260  PMID: 7665639

Abstract

We report the development of a PCR-based assay for the detection of microsporidia in clinical specimens. A single primer pair complementary to conserved sequences of the small-subunit rRNA enabled amplification of DNA from the four major microsporidian pathogens of humans: Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Encephalitozoon hellem, Enterocytozoon bieneusi, and Septata intestinalis. The extraction method allowed PCR amplification of E. bieneusi and S. intestinalis DNA from sodium hypochlorite-treated stool specimens. Differentiation of the microsporidian gastrointestinal pathogens E. bieneusi and S. intestinalis could be accomplished by restriction endonuclease digestion of PCR products using PstI and HaeIII.

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Selected References

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