Detection of Cryptosporidium Parvum DNA in Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded Tissue by the Polymerase Chain Reaction

Abstract
The objective of this project was to demonstrate detection of Cryptosporidium parvum DNA in fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). DNA was purified from six samples of fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue that were histologically positive for C. parvum and used in the PCR. Previously developed oligonucleotide primers specific for C. parvum were used to amplify a 452-base target sequence, and a 20-base synthetic probe labeled with digoxigenin-11-dUTP was used to detect the amplification product by chemiluminescence. All six samples were positive by PCR; negative controls showed no amplification or hybridization. This approach could provide a sensitive and specific method for detection of parasite material in fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples, and prove to be of significant value in retrospective studies of archival material.

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