title: Differentiation of Giardia duodenalis from other Giardia spp. by using polymerase chain reaction and gene probes.
abstract: Giardia spp. are waterborne organisms that are the most commonly identified pathogenic intestinal protozoans in the United States. Current detection techniques for Giardia species in water include microscopy and immunofluorescence techniques. Species of the genus Giardia are classified on the basis of taxonomic criteria, such as cell morphology, and on host specificity. We have developed a polymerase chain reaction- and gene probe-based detection system specific for Giardia spp., which can discriminate between the relevant species of the G. duodenalis type pathogenic to humans and other Giardia species that are not human pathogens. This method can detect a single Giardia cyst and is therefore sensitive enough for environmental monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Kentucky 40292.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mahbubani
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Bej
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Perlin
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jakubowski
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Atlas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015342:DNA Probes; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D005872:Giardia / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D015342:DNA Probes; D016054:DNA, Protozoan