title: Evaluation of the EasyScreen™ enteric parasite detection kit for the detection of Blastocystis spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba complex, and Giardia intestinalis from clinical stool samples.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the EasyScreen™ Enteric Parasite Detection Kit (Genetic Signatures, Sydney, Australia) for the detection and identification of 5 common enteric parasites: Blastocystis spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Dientamoeba fragilis, Entamoeba complex, and Giardia intestinalis in human clinical samples. A total of 358 faecal samples were included in the study. When compared to real-time PCR and microscopy, the EasyScreen™ Enteric Parasite Detection Kit exhibited 92-100% sensitivity and 100% specificity and detected all commonly found genotypes and subtypes of clinically important human parasites. No cross reactivity was detected in stool samples containing various other bacterial, viral, and/or protozoan species. The EasyScreen™ PCR assay was able to provide rapid, sensitive, and specific simultaneous detection and identification of the 5 most important diarrhoea-causing enteric parasites that infect humans. It should be noted, however, that the EasyScreen™ Kit does not substitute for microscopy or for additional PCRs as it does not detect the pathogenic Coccidia spp. Cystoisospora belli or Cyclospora cayetanensis and it does not differentiate between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Entamoeba spp. This study also highlights the lack of sensitivity demonstrated by microscopy; as such, molecular methods should be considered the diagnostic method of choice for enteric parasites.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia. Electronic address: dstark@stvincents.com.au.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stark
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: University of Technology Sydney, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia; University of Technology, Sydney, iThree Institute, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Marriott
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; University of Technology Sydney, School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, Broadway, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harkness
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008853:Microscopy; D010271:Parasites / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic / Q000592:standards*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
keywords: Diagnostics; Dientamoeba; PCR