Molecular diagnosis of intestinal protozoa of medical importance in the Instituto de Medicina Tropical Pedro Kourí
Keywords:
intestinal parasites, diagnostic, diarrhea, Polymerase chain reaction, microscopy, CubaAbstract
Introduction: The implementation of molecular techniques in medical parasitology laboratories have revolutionized the diagnosis of intestinal protozoa due to their high sensitivity and specificity, although conventional techniques continue to be the gold standard in the diagnosis of these intestinal parasitosis.
Objective: To detect by molecular methods the main intestinal protozoa of medical importance.
Methods: They were carried out four cross-sectional studies, three of them in children treated at the William Soler Hospital with the aim of detecting infection by intestinal protozoa associated with diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms in the period 2014-2019, using conventional and molecular methods. The fourth study included confirmation by molecular methods of sporadic cases of cyclosporidiosis. In addition, it is described a case report of cystosporidiosis and microsporidiosis in a Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patient using the real-time Polymerase chain reaction technique.
Results: In the first two studies focused on the epidemiology of giardiasis, it was verified the predominance of G. lamblia assemblage B, and through the sequencing technique they were identified the AII and BIV subassemblies in the symptomatic children studied. It was identified Dientamoeba fragilis for the first time by real-time Polymerase chain reaction in symptomatic patients, in addition to identifying the species Entamoeba dispar, within the E. histoyltica/E. dispar complex. It was demonstrated the usefulness of Polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of Cyclospora cayetanensis in cases confirmed by the modified Zielh Neelsen technique, and the sequencing for the first time of isolates of this intestinal coccidia. The application of intestinal real-time Polymerase chain reaction demonstrated its importance in immunosuppressed patients with Human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, especially for Cystoisospora belli and microsporidia.
Conclusion: Molecular techniques are of invaluable value for the diagnosis of various intestinal protozoa, since they allow a more comprehensive understanding of these infections.Downloads
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