title: Human pathogenic Cryptosporidium species bioanalytical detection method with single oocyst detection capability.
abstract: A bioanalytical detection method for specific detection of viable human pathogenic Cryptosporidium species, C. parvum, C. hominis, and C. meleagridis is described. Oocysts were isolated from water samples via immunomagnetic separation, and mRNA was extracted with oligo-dT magnetic beads, amplified using nucleic acid sequence-based amplification (NASBA), and then detected in a nucleic acid hybridization lateral flow assay. The amplified target sequence employed was hsp70 mRNA, production of which is stimulated via a brief heat shock. The described method was capable of detecting one oocyst in 10 μL using flow-cytometer-counted samples. Only viable oocysts were detected, as confirmed using 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and propidium iodide (DAPI/PI) staining. The detection system was challenged by detecting oocysts in the presence of large numbers of common waterborne microorganisms and packed pellet material filtered from environmental water samples. When the method was compared with EPA Method 1622 for C. parvum detection, highly comparable results were obtained. Since the described detection system yields unambiguous results within 4.5 h, it is an ideal method for monitoring the safety of drinking water.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Connelly
authors.forename: Sam R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Nugen
authors.forename: Wlodek
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Borejsza-Wysocki
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Durst
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Montagna
authors.forename: Antje J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Baeumner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation / Q000379:methods; D007211:Indoles; D033661:Oocysts / Q000276:immunology*; D011419:Propidium; D016053:RNA, Protozoan / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011817:Rabbits; D045483:Rivers; D021161:Self-Sustained Sequence Replication / Q000379:methods; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D007211:Indoles; D016053:RNA, Protozoan; D011419:Propidium; C007293:DAPI