Recombinase polymerase amplification-based assay to diagnose giardia in stool samples

Zachary Austin Crannell, Miguel Mauricio Cabada, Alejandro Castellanos-Gonzalez, Ayesha Irani, Arthur Clinton White, Rebecca Richards-Kortum

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Giardia duodenalis is one of the most commonly identified parasites in stool samples. Although relatively easy to treat, giardiasis can be difficult to detect as it presents similar to other diarrheal diseases. Here, we present a recombinase polymerase amplification-based Giardia (RPAG) assay to detect the presence of Giardia in stool samples. The RPAG assay was characterized on the bench top using stool samples spiked with Giardia cysts where it showed a limit-of-detection nearly as low as the gold standard polymerase chain reaction assay. The RPAG assay was then tested in the highlands of Peru on 104 stool samples collected from the surrounding communities where it showed 73% sensitivity and 95% specificity against a polymerase chain reaction and microscopy composite gold standard. Further improvements in clinical sensitivity will be needed for the RPAG assay to have clinical relevance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)583-587
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume92
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

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