title: Evaluation of three diagnostic methods, including real-time PCR, for detection of Dientamoeba fragilis in stool specimens.
abstract: Dientamoeba fragilis is a protozoan parasite of humans that infects the mucosa of the large intestine and is associated with gastrointestinal disease. We developed a 5' nuclease (TaqMan)-based real-time PCR assay, targeting the small subunit rRNA gene, for the detection of D. fragilis in human stool specimens and compared its sensitivity and specificity to conventional PCR and microscopic examination by a traditional modified iron-hematoxylin staining procedure. Real-time PCR exhibited 100% sensitivity and specificity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia. dstark@stvincents.com.au
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marriott
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harkness
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology; D004029:Dientamoeba / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004030:Dientamoebiasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D020459:Genes, rRNA / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan