Diagnostic Methods of Common Intestinal Protozoa: Current and Future Immunological and Molecular Methods

Abstract

Intestinal protozoan infection is a persisting public health problem affecting the populations of developing countries in the tropical and subtropical regions. The diagnosis of intestinal protozoa remains a challenge especially in developing countries due to a shortage of laboratory facilities, limited health funding, and the remoteness of communities. Despite still being widely used, conventional diagnoses using microscopy and staining methods pose important limitations, particularly due to their low sensitivities and specificities. The selection of diagnostic methods needs to be carefully considered based on the objective of examination, availability of resources, and the expected parasite to be found. In this review, we describe various immunodiagnosis and molecular diagnostic methods for intestinal protozoa infection, including their advantages, disadvantages, and suitability for different settings, with a focus on Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia duodenalis, and Cryptosporidium spp.

Molecular diagnosis of intestinal protozoa in young adults and their pets in Colombia, South America

“…Microscopy has intrinsic limitations such as low or variable sensitivity and lack of species differentiation. Alternatively, molecular diagnosis using DNA amplification methods has shown increased sensitivity and specificity which also offer multiplex formats and make feasible further genotype analysis [ 19 , 20 ].…”