Detection of Intestinal Protozoa in Korean Patients Using BD MAX Enteric Parasite Panel and Seegene Allplex Gastrointestinal Parasite Assay

Abstract

Background: Intestinal protozoan infection is one of the main causes of gastrointestinal diseases. Protozoa are usually detected by direct smear microscopy, concentration techniques, or special stains; however, these techniques are labor-intensive and require well-trained technicians. Therefore, molecular techniques involving polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been developed to satisfy the need for unbiased and rapid analytical methods with high sensitivity and specificity. In this study, the BD MAX TM Enteric Parasite Panel (EPP) (Becton, Dickinson and Company, USA), designed to detect Cryptosporidium parvum and/or hominis, Giardia lamblia, and Entamoeba histolytica, and the Allplex TM Gastrointestinal Parasite Assays (AGPA) (Seegene Inc., Korea), designed to detect Cryptosporidium species, G. lamblia, E. histolytica, Blastocystis hominis, Dientamoeba fragilis, and Cyclospora cayetanensis were compared to determine whether any of these assays could become a useful tool for detecting intestinal protozoan infections in Korea. Methods: We investigated 295 fecal samples using EPP and AGPA. Then we confirmed the positive results with the conventional and nested PCR. Consistent detection by conventional PCR, nested PCR, and one of the multiplex panels was considered "true positive." Results: Out of 295 samples, 17 were true positives for B. hominis and 2 were true positives for E. histolytica. EPP detected parasites in only two samples owing to its design; however, its true positive detection rate was 100% (2/2). AGPA detected parasites in 24 samples with 79.2% (19/24) true positives. Conclusions: The incidence of protozoan, especially B. hominis, infection may be more prevalent than expected. AGPA could be an effective tool for screening protozoan infections.

One Health Approach to Zoonotic Parasites: Molecular Detection of Intestinal Protozoans in an Urban Population of Norway Rats, Rattus norvegicus, in Barcelona, Spain

“…Multiplex PCR for the detection and identification of intestinal parasites was performed with the Allplex TM Gastrointestinal Panel-Parasite Assay (GIPPA) (Seegene Inc., Seoul, Korea) [ 12 , 13 ]. This panel consists of a multiplex real time PCR for the detection of human protist parasites such as Giardia duodenalis , Entamoeba histolytica , Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis hominis , Dientamoeba fragilis, and Cyclospora cayetanensis by amplifying small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) genes.…”

Interplay between Intestinal Bacterial Communities and Unicellular Parasites in a Morbidly Obese Population: A Neglected Trinomial

“…Multiplex PCR for the detection and identification of intestinal parasites was performed using a commercially available kit, Allplex GI-Parasite Assay (GIPPA) (Seegene, Seoul, South Korea) for common human unicellular parasites such as Giardia duodenalis , Entamoeba histolytica , Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis hominis , Dientamoeba fragilis and Cyclospora cayetanensis [ 39 , 40 , 41 ]. Amplification was performed on the CFX96 Real Time PCR System (Bio-Rad, Marnes-la-Coquette, France), and managed with CFX Manager IVD 1.6 software, in a 25 µL reaction volume containing 20 µL reaction mix (5 µL Primers Mom, 5 µL Anyplex PCR MM (EM2), 8 µL of DNase/RNase-free water and 2 µL of internal control) and 5 µL of DNA.…”

Do Intestinal Unicellular Parasites Have a Role in the Inflammatory and Redox Status among the Severely Obese?

“…Multiplex real-time PCR (qPCR) for the detection and identification of intestinal parasites was performed using a commercially available kit, Allplex GI-Parasite Assay (GIPPA) (Seegene, Seoul, South Korea) [ 68 , 69 ]. This panel consists of a simultaneous real qPCR for the detection of six common protist parasites in humans, such as Giardia duodenalis , Entamoeba histolytica , Cryptosporidium spp., Blastocystis hominis , Dientamoeba fragilis and Cyclospora cayetanensis .…”