Diagnostic Findings [Last Modified: ]
Cyclosporiasis
[Cyclospora cayetanensis]
Causal Agent Life Cycle Geographic Distribution Clinical Features Laboratory Diagnosis Treatment

Molecular diagnosis
A nested PCR assay targeting the small-subunit ribosomal RNA has been developed.1  Preliminary results indicate that the Cyclospora-specific PCR primers cross react with some Eimeria species and the sensitivity of the assay may be low (62%).2

Agarose Gel - PCR for Cyclospora
A

A: Agarose gel (2%) analysis of a PCR diagnostic test for detection of Cyclospora DNA.  PCR was performed using nested primers CYCF1E/CYCR2B (first round) and CYCF3E/CYCR4B (second round).1,2

  • Lane S: Molecular base pair standard (100-bp ladder).  Black arrows show the size of standard bands.
  • Lane 1: Cyclospora positive fecal specimen.  The red arrow shows the diagnostic band for Cyclospora cayetanensis (size: 308 bp).

References:  

  1. Relman DA, Schmidt TM, Gajadhar A, Sogin M, Cross J, Yoder K, et al. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Cyclospora, the human intestinal pathogen, suggests that it is closely related to Eimeria species. J Infect Dis 1996;173:440-45.
  2. Pieniazek NJ, Slemenda SB, da Silva AJ, Alfano EM, Arrowood MJ. PCR confirmation of infection with Cyclospora cayetanensis. Emerg Infect Dis 1996;2:357-9.

 
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