Detection and genotyping of cryptosporidium spp. in diarrheic stools by PCR/RFLP analyses

doi:10.3906/sag-1003-720 Detection and genotyping of Cryptosporidium spp. in diarrheic stools by PCR/RFLP analyses Selma USLUCA, Ümit AKSOY Aim: To compare microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as methods for diagnosing Cryptosporidium spp. and identifying the genotype of the parasite in diarrheic stool. Materials and methods: Stool samples from diarrheic patients admitted to Dokuz Eylül University Medical Faculty were collected on a specifi c day of the week. Stool samples sent to our laboratory from patients aff ected by a diarrhea epidemic in İzmir were also included in the study. A total of 162 stool samples were examined by microscopic and molecular methods, and the validity of the molecular method was investigated. Results: Using Kinyoun acid-fast dye, Cryptosporidium spp. was found in 18 stool samples. Using PCR, Cryptosporidium spp.-specifi c bands were found in 15 of these cases. In stool samples that showed no Cryptosporidium spp. by Kinyoun acid-fast dye, a parasite-specifi c band was obtained in 6 of 144 cases. Th e restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method was applied in the cases in which the parasite was found with PCR. Cryptosporidium meleagridis was found in the stool sample of 1 case, and Cryptosporidium parvum-specifi c bands were seen in the stool samples of 2