Journal
PARASITOLOGY
Volume 141, Issue 14, Pages 1863-1872Publisher
CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1017/S0031182014000419
Keywords
Real-time PCR; Entamoeba histolytica; Giardia lamblia; Cryptosporidium; Dientamoeba fragilis; helminths
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For many years PCR- and other DNA-based methods of pathogen detection have been available in most clinical microbiology laboratories; however, until recently these tools were not routinely exploited for the diagnosis of parasitic infections. Laboratories were initially reluctant to implement PCR as incorporation of such assays within the algorithm of tools available for the most accurate diagnosis of a large variety of parasites was unclear. With regard to diagnosis of intestinal parasitic infections, the diversity of parasites that one can expect in most settings is far less than the parasitological textbooks would have you believe, hence developing a simplified diagnostic triage is feasible. Therefore the classical algorithm based on population, patient groups, use of immuno-suppressive drugs, travel history etc. is also applicable to decide when to perform and which additional techniques are to be used, if a multiplex PCR panel is used as a first-line screening diagnostic.
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