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Bacteriological
Analytical
Manual
Online
October 2004
Chapter 19 A.
Detection of Cyclospora and Cryptosporidium from Fresh Produce:
Isolation and Identification by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Microscopic analysis
Table of Contents
- Materials and Equipment
- Reagents
- Optional Reagents, Supplies, and Equipment
- Wash Procedure for Fresh Produce
- Isolation of Cyclospora from Fresh Produce Washes
- Isolation of Cryptosporidium spp. from Fresh Produce Washes
- Isolation of Parasitic Contaminants from Juices, Cider, and Milk
- Isolation of Cyclospora from Juices, Cider, and Milk
- Isolation of Cryptosporidium spp. from Juices, Cider, and Milk
- Isolation of Parasitic Contaminants from Large Volumes of Water
- Slide Preparation and Microscopic Analysis-Cyclospora cayetanensis
- Sample Preparation
- Microscopy
- Slide Preparation and Microscopic Analysis-Cryptosporidium spp.
- PCR Analysis
- DNA Primers
- General Sample Preparations for Primary PCR Amplification
- Conventional Multiplex PCR Amplification for the Differential Identification of Cyclospora
and Eimeria spp.
- OPTIONAL-Real Time Multiplex PCR Amplification for the Differential Identification of Cyclospora
and Eimeria spp. using the Roche LightCycler® System
- Nested PCR Amplification for the Differential Identification of Cryptosporidium spp.
- Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) Analysis of Cryptosporidium spp.
Nested PCR Amplicons to Determine the Presence and Differentiation of C. hominis
and C. parvum
- References
List of Figures
- Figure 1 Assembly of the FTA-Filter Funnel Unit
- Figure 2 Practical Applications of FTA Filter Formats
List of Tables
- Table 1 Parameters for Epifluorescence Microscopy
- Table 2 DNA Primer Sequences for Cyclospora-specific PCR Amplification
- Table 3 DNA Primer Sequences for Cryptosporidium Genus-specific PCR Amplification
- Table 4 General PCR Conditions for Primary PCR Amplification
- Table 5 Controls for PCR Amplifications
- Table 6 PCR Thermal Cycling Parameters for Cyclospora and
Eimeria spp. Detection
- Table 7 PCR Thermal Cycling Parameters for Cryptosporidium spp.
- Table 8 Assay Conditions for the Conventional Nested Multiplex
PCR Amplification of Cyclospora and Eimeria spp.
- Table 9 Assay Conditions for the Real-time Nested Multiplex PCR
Amplification of Cyclospora and Eimeria spp.
- Table 10 LightCycler® Thermal Cycling Parameters for Real-time
Multiplex PCR Amplification of Cyclospora and Eimeria spp.
- Table 11 Expected Results for Real-time Multiplex PCR Amplification of
Cyclospora and Eimeria spp. by Melting Curve Analysis
- Table 12 Assay Conditions for the Nested Amplification of Cryptosporidium spp.
- Table 13 Evaluation of nested PCR Amplification and RFLP Analysis to Differentiate
Cryptosporidium spp.
- Materials and Equipment
- BagPage®+ filter bags (400 ml) and Bag Clips (Interscience, St Nom, France)
- Envirochek™ sampling capsule, 1 µm nominal (Pall Gelman Laboratory)
- Rocker platform
- Rotary shaker
- Rotating wheel
- 150 ml analytical filter units (Nalgene, Cat No. 130-4045)
- 25 mm disposable filter funnels (Whatman Biosciences)
- Dynal L10 tubes Prod. No. 740-03)
- Dynal MPC®-1 (Prod. No 120.01)
- Dynal MPC®-S (Prod. No 120.20)
- Vacuum manifold (Vac-Man® Laboratory Vacuum Manifold 20-sample capacity; Promega)
- FTA Filters, Classic Card of 960circle pre-printed card formats (Whatman Biosciences)
- Photo laminating sheets (Scotch®)
- Conical 250 ml centrifuge tubes
- Sorvall RT7 Plus refrigerated centrifuge or equivalent (to centrifuge 250 ml conical centrifuge tubes)
- Epi-illuminated Fluorescence Microscope-equipped with the following: UV 1A filter block (excitation Filter,
EX 365/10; Dichroic mirror, DM 440; Barrier Filter, BA-400; or equivalent. Optics for differential interference
contrast (DIC). For Cryptosporidium spp.: appropriate filter for viewing fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated
oocysts.
(Table 1)
- Glass microscope slides and cover slips
- Blotting paper
- Heating block for incubation at 56°C
- Single punch (6 mm diameter) hole puncher
- Thin-walled 0.65 ml PCR tube (PGC)
- ART pipette tips (Molecular BioProducts)
- PTC-200 DNA Engine (MJ Research) or comparable thermal cycler.
- Horizontal gel electrophoresis apparatus and power supply.
- Polaroid camera or digital imaging system to capture ethidium bromide-stained gels
- Polaroid Type 667 film
- UV Transilluminator
- Reagents
- Water
- Deionized water (for washing produce [dH2O])
- Sterile deionized water (for PCR procedure)
- Envirochek™ elution buffer (0.01M Tris, pH 7.4 ; 0.001 M EDTA; 1% SDS)
- Silicone vacuum grease
- Albumin, bovine (BSA) (Sigma, A-7030)
- Celite (Sigma, C-8656)
- Polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP) (Sigma, P-6755)
- NET buffer: 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.0, 0.15M NaCl, 0.001M EDTA
- NET-BSA buffer-NET buffer containing 1% (w/v) BSA
- 20% celite in NET-BSA buffer (w/v)
- 10% PVPP (w/v) in dH2O
- Dynabeads anti-Cryptosporidium Kit (Dynal Biotech Inc, USA)
- Hydrofluor Combo Detection Kit for Cryptosporidium and Giardia (Strategic Diagnostics, Inc.)
- 0.1 N HCl
- 0.1 N NaOH
- Immersion oil
- Clear fingernail polish, slide compound, paraffin wax or equivalent
- FTA Purification Buffer (Whatman Biosciences)
- FTA filter wash buffer: 0.01 M Tris, Ph 8.0; 0.1 mM EDTA
- DNA Primers-See Table 1 in PCR Section
- HotStartTaq™ Master Mix Kit (Qiagen)
- 0.5x Tris-acetate-EDTA buffer (0.5x TAE)
- Molecular biology-grade agarose (BioRad)
- Ethidium bromide
- 6x gel loading solution
- 100 bp and 25 bp DNA ladders (Invitrogen)
- Vsp I restriction endonuclease (Promega)
- Dra II restriction endonuclease (Hoffman-La Roche)
- NuSieve® 3:1 agarose (Biowhitaker Molecular Applications)
- Optional Reagents, Supplies, and Equipment
- LightCycler®-FastStart DNA Master SYBR Green I kit (Roche Diagnostics)
- LightCycler® Capillaries (Roche Diagnostics)
- LightCycler® System (Roche Diagnostics)
- Wash Procedure for Fresh Produce
This procedure can be used to analyze for potential contaminants on fresh leafy produce
(lettuce, herbs, etc) and berries (e.g. raspberries) and may be applicable to other
fresh produce.
- Place produce to be analyzed (10-25 g of fresh leafy produce or 50g of fresh berries)
in a BagPage®+ filter bag, add 100 ml dH2O and seal with Bag Clip.
- Place on rocker platform and gently agitate for 30 minutes at room temperature, inverting
the bag after 15 minutes.
- Decant supernatant from the BagPage®+ filter bag into clean 50 ml conical
centrifuge tubes and centrifuge for 20 minutes at 2,000xg.
- Isolation of Cyclospora from Fresh Produce Washes
- Aspirate supernatants (without disturbing debris pellets) to a volume not to exceed 45 ml when combined.
- Suspend pellets in remaining supernatants and combine.
- Add 2.5 ml 20% (w/v) celite in NET-BSA suspension (ensure that celite is thoroughly suspended
prior to its addition to sample washes). Mix samples on a rotating wheel at room temperature for
15 minutes.
- Add 1.0 ml of 10% PVPP suspension (w/v). Mix samples on a rotating wheel at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- Prepare a 150 ml analytical filter unit by removing the membrane filter (0.45 µm or 0.2 µm)
but retaining the grade 4 filter backing. Attach to a vacuum source.
- Pre-wet the analytical filter with a small volume (~10ml) of NET buffer.
- Decant celite/PVPP-containing sample wash into a prepared 150 ml analytical filter unit and vacuum filter.
Ensure that the liquid passes through the filter septum to remove particulates and the celite particles from
the suspension as it is filtered. The adsorbant celite should prevent filter clogging.
- Rinse the container with 10 ml NET to recover as much of the residual celite-containing sample and decant
into the filter unit. Then rinse the celite and particulate material trap onto the filter with an additional
10 ml volume of NET.
- Prior to FTA filtration in step 4l, save ~10% of the filtered sample for microscopic examination.
- Prepare filter funnel unit(s) containing FTA filter disk as described in Figure 1 and attach to vacuum
manifold.
- Under vacuum, pre-wet the FTA filter assembly.
- Slowly decant filtrate from step 4i into filter funnel unit while under vacuum until entire sample
has passed through FTA filter.
- In succession while filter funnel unit is still attached to vacuum manifold, rinse filter twice with 10 ml
of FTA purification buffer and twice with 10 ml of FTA filter wash buffer.
- Remove filter funnel unit from vacuum manifold, disassemble unit and dry FTA filter disk on
56°C heating block.
- Isolation of Cryptosporidium spp. from Fresh Produce Washes
- Aspirate supernatants (without disturbing debris pellets) to a volume not to exceed 10 ml when combined.
- Suspend pellets in remaining supernatants and combine. NOTE: pellet volume should not exceed 0.5 ml packed
volume as it will interfere with subsequent steps that employ immunomagnetic adsorption of Cryptosporidium
oocysts.
- Follow directions accompanying Dynabead anti-Cryptosporidium Kit for immunomagnetic separation (IMS) of
Cryptosporidium oocysts from fresh produce washes using recommend tubes and magnetic capturing devices.
- Elute captured Cryptosporidium oocysts in a 0.1 ml volume of 0.1N HCl for 5 minutes a room temperature.
- Neutralize acid eluates with 0.01 ml 1N NaOH. Save ~10% of the sample for microscopic examination.
- Dilute with 10 ml NET buffer.
- Proceed as in Section 4A, steps j-n.
- Isolation of Parasitic Contaminants from Juices, Cider and Milk
This procedure can be used to analyze for contaminants in liquid samples such as orange juice, apple juice,
apple cider, milk and milk products.
- Isolation of Cyclospora from Juices, Cider and Milk
- Adjust a 25 ml aliquot of liquid sample to pH 8.0.
- Add an equal volume of NET buffer and mix well.
- Proceed as in Section 4A, steps c-n
- Isolation of Cryptosporidium spp. from Juices, Cider and Milk
A 10 ml volume of cider, juice or milk product is directly sampled by IMS using the Dynabead
anti-Cryptosporidium Kit along with the recommend tubes and magnetic capturing devices
as in Section 4B, steps c-f.
- Isolation of Parasitic Contaminants from Large Volumes of Water
This procedure is designed to isolate contaminants from a designated water source
(stream, river, reservoir, standing water, runoff, etc).
- Place a single Envirochek™ sampling capsule in line with the water source to be sampled.
Ensure that the flow rate does not exceed the standards established by the manufacturer.
- Collect a water sample from 10 L of flow through.
- Remove contaminants captured by the filter using 125 ml of elution buffer. Filters should be treated with elution
buffer, sealed and agitated on a rotating wheel (moderate speed) for at least 5-10 minutes following the manufacturer's
recommendations. Decant filter rinse into a 250 ml conical centrifuge tube.
- Repeat step 6c and combine filter rinses.
- Centrifuge the sample at 1,500-2,000 x g for 20 minutes allowing the centrifuge to coast to a stop
(do not use the brake)
- Proceed as described in Sections 4A and 4B for the isolation of Cyclospora and
Cryptosporidium spp. respectively.
- Slide Preparation and Microscopic Analysis-Cyclospora cayetanensis
Cyclospora oocysts emit a cobalt blue autofluorescence with the UV-1A emission filter or blue-green with
broader emission spectra filters under ultraviolet illumination. Prepare slides in duplicate and examine slides
under ultraviolet illumination as described below.
Laboratories should use a microscope reticle capable of measuring organism in the 8-10 µm range to verify
oocyst size when organisms are recovered. Compare morphological characteristics of presumptive oocysts to those
in a known standard.
- Slide Preparation
Centrifuge the volume set aside for microscopic analysis (Section 4A, step i), at 1,500 x g
for 10-15 min at 4°C. Aspirate supernatant to within 0.5 ml of debris pellet. Uniformly suspend pellet
material by gentle, repeated pipetting.
- Apply silicone vacuum grease to edge of cover slip
- Place 10 µl of suspended debris to a clean glass microscope slide and prepare a wet
mount using pre-greased cover slip
- Microscopy
- Examine slide under UV light at 400X magnification. Cyclospora
oocysts autofluoresce cobalt blue. Examine slide at multiple planes under UV.
Occasionally, debris in slide preparations make it difficult to only view the slide on one plane.
- Switch from epifluorescence microscopy to bright field microscopy or differential interference contrast
microscopy. Determine oocyst size of any presumptive oocysts at 1000X magnification. Compare to standards.
Confirm internal structures of presumptive Cyclospora oocysts as compared to a standard.
- Seal cover slips to the glass slides of presumptive positives with fingernail polish, slide compound or
paraffin wax.
- Document presumed positive samples with photographs taken at multiple planes.
- Slide Preparation and Microscopic Analysis-Cryptosporidium spp.
Microscopic examination of produce washings and other liquid samples for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp.
oocysts will be conducted using commercially available immuno-magnetic bead separation (IMS) kits and immunofluorescence
labeling kits.
- An aliquot (~10µl) of the IMS-derived sample Section 4B, step e, is FITC-labeled using the
Hydrofluor Combo Detection Kit for Cryptosporidium and Giardia (Ensys Inc., Research Triangle
Park, NC) per the manufacturer's instructions and examined in conventional DIC and epifluorescence mode.
Table 1: Parameters for Epifluorescence Microscopy†
INCIDENT LIGHT
Light Source-Mercury Vapor
200W, 100W, or 50W
Excitation Filter |
Dichroic Filter |
Barrier Filter |
Red Suppression Filter |
KP500 |
TK510 |
K510 or K530 |
BG38 |
FITC |
TK510 |
K530 |
BG38 |
D. Tungsten-Halogen 50 and 100 W |
KP500 |
TK510 |
K510 or K530 |
BG38 |
FITC |
TK510 |
K530 |
BG38 |
†Taken from protocol provided with HYDROLFUOR-Combo Detection Kit for Giardia cysts and
Cryptosporidium oocysts (Ensys Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC)
- PCR Analysis
The molecular detection of Cyclospora spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. is independently accomplished
using nested PCR protocols. The differential identification of Cyclospora cayetanensis from other closely
related non-human pathogenic parasites (i.e. Eimeria spp.) employs a nested multiplex PCR assay. This assay
can be accomplished using either a conventional thermal cycler with heated lid or a real-time PCR platform using
the Roche LightCycler®.
The detection of Cryptosporidium spp. also involves nested PCR amplification. However, differentiation and
speciation of Cryptosporidium spp. requires further analysis by a restriction fragment length polymorphism
(RFLP) assay. Please note the following: C. parvum genotype I has been renamed C. hominis;
C. parvum genotype II (bovine strain) is now referred to as C. parvum
- DNA Primers
Table 2: DNA Primer Sequences for Cyclospora-specific PCR Amplification†
Primer Designation |
Primer Specificity |
Primer Sequence (5'-3') |
Amplicon Size (bp) |
Designated Application |
F1E (forward) |
Cyclospora and Eimeria spp. |
TACCCAATGAAAACAGTTT |
636 |
Primary Amplification |
R2B (reverse) |
CAGGAGAAGCCAAGGTAGG |
|
CC719 (forward) |
C. cayetanensis |
GTAGCCTTCCGCGCTTCG |
298 |
Nested Amplification |
|
PLDC661 (forward) |
C. cercopitheci, C. colobi, C. papionis |
CTGTCGTGGTCATCGTCCGC |
361 |
Nested Amplification |
|
ESSP841 (forward) |
Eimeria spp. |
GTTCTATTTTGTTGGTTTCTAGGACCA |
174 |
Nested Amplification |
|
CRP999 (reverse) |
Cyclospora and Eimeria spp. |
CGTCTTCAAACCCCCTACTGTCG |
|
Nested Amplification |
†All primer sequences were derived from the published sequences for the 18S rRNA genes
of the respective organisms.
Table 3: DNA Primer Sequences for Cryptosporidium Genus-specific PCR Amplification†
Primer Designation |
Primer Specificity |
Primer Sequence (5'-3') |
Amplicon Size (bp) |
Designated Application |
ExCry1 (forward) |
Cryptosporidium spp. |
GCCAGTAGTCATATGCTTGTCTC |
844 |
Primary Amplification |
ExCry2 (reverse) |
ACTGTTAAATAGAAATGCCCCC |
|
NesCry3 (forward) |
Cryptosporidium spp. |
GCGAAAAAACTCGACTTTATGGAAGGG |
590-593 |
Nested Amplification |
NesCry4 (reverse) |
GGAGTATTCAAGGCATATGCCTGC |
†All primer sequences were derived from the published sequences for the 18S rRNA genes of the
respective organisms.
- General Sample Preparations for Primary PCR Amplifications
- Punch marked triplicate areas (6 mm diameter) from dried FTA filter disk using a single punch
hole-puncher. Decontamination of the hole-puncher is not necessary as cross contamination between samples
from the hole-puncher has been found to be negligible. However, the individual researcher may wish to swab the
punch with ethanol between sample disks if it is deemed appropriate.
- Insert filter punches snuggly into bottom of 0.65 ml thin-walled PCR tubes.
- Dispense 50 µl HotStartTaq™ Master Mix into each PCR tube.
- Prepare reagent master mix (see Table 4) with the appropriate forward and reverse DNA primers
(see Tables 2 and 3) and dispense into each PCR tube.
- All PCR analyses must include positive and negative controls (see Table 5).
- Mix tubes with gentle tapping.
- Follow the appropriate thermal cycling protocol (Table 6 and 7) for primary PCR amplification.
Table 4: General PCR Conditions for Primary PCR Amplification
Component |
Volume (µl)* |
Final Concentration |
FTA Filter Disk (DNA Template) |
|
|
HotStartTaq™ Master Mix |
50.0 |
† |
Reagent Master Mix |
MgCl2, 25 mM |
2.0 |
2.0 ‡ |
Forward Primer, 10 µM |
2.0 |
0.2 µM |
Reverse Primer, 10 µM |
2.0 |
0.2 µM |
Sterile deionized water |
44.00 |
|
*100 µl total volume
†Final concentrations for components in the HotStartTaq™ Master
Mix are as follows: 200 µM of each dNTP, 1.5 mM MgCl2 and 2.5 U HotStarTaq™
DNA Polymerase
‡Final MgCl2 concentration is that contributed by both the HotStartTaq™
Master Mix and 25 mM MgCl2stock
Table 5: Controls for PCR amplifications
Control Type |
Condition/Organism |
Negative Control-1 |
Reagent blank-no filter |
Negative Control-2 |
Reagent blank + unspotted, washed filter |
|
†Positive Controls: |
Cyclospora Analysis: |
C. cayetanensis |
‡¶Cyclospora spp. (NHP) |
*Eimeria spp. |
|
Cryptosporidium Analysis: |
¶C. hominis (formerly know as C. parvum genotype 1) |
C. parvum, (formerly know as C. parvum genotype II (Bovine) |
¶C. baileyi |
¶C. serpentis |
†Whenever possible, positive control FTA filters should be spotted with at least 103 organisms
‡Non-human primate-derived Cyclospora spp.
¶Not routinely available.
*Most available Eimeria spp. are suitable.
Table 6: PCR Thermal Cycling Parameters for Cyclospora and Eimeria spp.
|
Step |
Number of Cycles |
Temperature and Time |
Primary PCR |
Initial Activation |
1 |
95°C; 15 min |
Amplification |
35 |
Denaturation: 94°C; 30 sec |
Annealing: 53°C; 30 sec |
Extension: 72°C; 90 sec |
Final Extension |
1 |
72°C; 10 min |
|
†Nested Multiplex PCR |
Initial Activation |
1 |
95°C; 15 min |
Amplification |
25 |
Denaturation: 94°C; 15 sec |
Annealing: 66°C; 15 sec |
†This is a stringent, 2-step amplification program (simultaneous annealing and extension at 66°C).
Likewise, it does not require a final extension step.
Table 7: PCR Thermal Cycling Parameters for Cryptosporidium spp.
|
Step |
Number of Cycles |
Temperature and Time |
Primary PCR |
Initial Activation |
1 |
95°C; 15 min |
Amplification |
40 |
Denaturation: 94°C; 45 sec |
Annealing: 53°C; 75 sec |
Extension: 72°C; 45 sec |
Final Extension |
1 |
72°C; 7 min |
|
Nested PCR |
Initial Activation |
1 |
95°C; 15 min |
Amplification |
35 |
Denaturation: 94°C; 25 sec |
Annealing: 65°C; 25 sec |
Extension: 72°C; 25 sec |
Final Extension |
1 |
72°C; 7 min |
- Conventional Nested Multiplex PCR Amplification for the Differential Identification of Cyclospora and
Eimeria spp.
- Dispense 25 µl of HotStartTaq™ Master Mix into each PCR tube.
- Prepare reagent master mix (Table 8) and dispense into all tubes
- Complete reaction samples with the addition of the desired volume (1-3 µl) of primary amplicon solution.
- Be sure to include all positive and negative controls as in the primary amplification reactions.
- Mix tubes with gentle tapping.
- Follow the appropriate thermal cycling protocol listed in Table 6.
Table 8: Assay Conditions for the Conventional Nested Multiplex PCR Amplification of
Cyclospora and Eimeria spp.
Component |
Volume (µl)* |
Final Concentration |
HotStartTaq™ Master Mix |
25.0 |
† |
MgCl2, 25 mM |
1.0 |
2.0 mM‡ |
CC719 (forward primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.2 µM |
PDCL661 (forward primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.2 µM |
ESSP841 (forward primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.2 µM |
CRP999 (reverse primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.2 µM |
Sterile deionized water |
19.00 |
|
DNA Template (primary amplicon) |
1.0 |
|
*50 µl total volume
†Final concentrations for components in the HotStartTaq™ Master Mix
are as follows: 200 µM of each dNTP, 1.5 mM MgCl2 and 2.5 U HotStarTaq™
DNA Polymerase
‡Final MgCl2 concentration is that contributed by both the HotStartTaq™
Master Mix and 25 mM MgCl2 stock.
- OPTIONAL-Real Time Multiplex PCR Amplification for the Differential Identification of Cyclospora and
Eimeria spp. using the Roche LightCycler® System
- Place the requisite number of glass capillaries in a pre-chilled cooling block (with accompanying
centrifuge adapters)
- Prepare a reagent master mix (Table 9) and dispense into individual 0.65 ml PCR tubes
- Complete reaction samples with the addition of the 1 µl of primary amplicon solution.
- Be sure to include all positive and negative controls as in the primary amplification reactions.
- Mix tubes with gentle tapping.
- Dispense reaction mixture into glass capillaries, cap, and centrifuge briefly (5-10 sec at 3000 rpm) in a
bench-top microcentrifuge.
- Transfer glass capillaries to LightCycler® carousel.
- Follow the appropriate thermal cycling protocol for (Table 10 ).
- Real time confirmation of pathogen can be made by melting curve analyis (see Table 11)
- For final confirmation, samples can be recovered from each glass capillary.
- Uncap, invervet capillary into a 0.65 ml PCR tube containing 5 µl of gel loading solution, and briefly
centrifuge (5-10 sec at 3000 rpm) in a bench-top microcentrifuge.
- Following instruction for agarose gel electrophoresis (Part 9, Section F, steps b-f)
Table 9: Assay Conditions for the Real-time Nested Multiplex PCR Amplification of
Cyclospora and Eimeria spp.
Component |
Volume (µl)* |
Final Concentration |
LightCycler®-FastStart DNA Master SYBR Green |
2.0 |
- |
MgCl2, 25 mM |
1.6 |
3.0 mM |
CC719 (forward primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.5 µM |
PDCL661 (forward primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.5 µM |
ESSP841 (forward primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.5 µM |
CRP999 (reverse primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.5 µM |
Sterile deionized water |
11.40 |
- |
DNA Template (primary amplicon) |
1.0 |
- |
*20 µl total volume
Table 10: LightCycler® Thermal Cycling Parameters for Real-time Multiplex PCR Amplification
of Cyclospora and Eimeria spp.
Step |
Number of Cycles |
Temperature and Time |
Comments |
Hot Start |
1 |
95°C; 10 min |
|
Amplification |
30 |
Denaturation: 95°C; 15 sec |
|
Annealing: 66°C; 15 sec |
Single Fluorescence Acquisition |
|
Melting Curve Analysis |
1 |
95°C; 15 sec |
|
65°C; 15 sec |
|
98°C; 0.1°C/sec |
Continuous Fluorescence Acquisition |
Table 11: Expected Results for Real-time Multiplex PCR Amplification of Cyclospora and Eimeria spp.
by Melting Curve Analysis
Primer Designation |
Primer Specificity |
Primer Sequence (5'-3') |
Amplicon Size (bp) |
Amplicon Tm (°C) |
CC719 |
C. cayetanensis |
GTAGCCTTCCGCGCTTCG |
298 |
85°C |
PLDC661 |
C. cercopitheci, C. colobi, C. papionis |
CTGTCGTGGTCATCGTCCGC |
361 |
91°C |
ESSP841 |
Eimeria spp. |
GTTCTATTTTGTTGGTTTCTAGGACCA |
174 |
81°C |
- Nested PCR Amplification for the Differential Identification of Cryptosporidium spp.
- Dispense 25 µl of HotStartTaq™ Master Mix into each PCR tube.
- Prepare reagent master mix (Table 12) and dispense into all tubes
- Complete reaction samples with the addition of the desired volume (1-3 µl) of primary amplicon solution.
- Be sure to include all positive and negative controls as in the primary amplification reactions.
- Mix tubes with gentle tapping.
- Follow the appropriate thermal cycling protocol listed in Table 7.
Table 12: Assay Conditions for Nested Amplification of Cryptosporidium spp.
Component |
Volume (µl)* |
Final Concentration |
HotStartTaq™ Master Mix |
25.0 |
† |
MgCl2, 25 mM |
1.0 |
2.0 ‡ |
NesCry3 (forward primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.2 µM |
NesCry4 (reverse primer), 10 µM |
1.0 |
0.2 µM |
Sterile deionized water |
21.0 |
|
DNA Template (primary amplicon) |
1.0 |
|
*50 µl total volume
†Final concentrations for components in the HotStartTaq™ Master Mix
are as follows: 200 µM of each dNTP, 1.5 mM MgCl2 and 2.5 U HotStarTaq™
DNA Polymerase
‡ Final MgCl2 concentration is that contributed by both the HotStartTaq™
Master Mix and 25 mM MgCl2 stock
- Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
- Mix 10 µl of nested amplification product with 2-3 µl of gel loading solution.
- Load samples into wells of a 1.5% agarose gel prepared with 0.5 x TAE containing 0.2 µg/ml ethidium bromide.
Include at least one lane containing 100 bp DNA ladder to approximate the size of any amplicon present.
- Run the gel at 125 volts (constant voltage) for at least 30 min.
- PCR products on the agarose gel can be visualized by using a UV transilluminator. Photograph the gel to have a
permanent record of the results using a Polaroid Type 667 film (or a digital system, if you decide to include that
in the material
& methods).
- The primary amplicon from primer pair F1E/R2B for Cyclospora PCR may not be visible; therefore, only
product from the nested reaction should be electrophoresed.
- Predicted sizes of PCR amplicons from Cyclospora spp., Eimeria spp. and Cryptosporidium spp.
are listed in Tables 1 and 2
- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) Analysis of Cryptosporidium spp. Nested PCR
Amplicons to Determine the Presence of C. parvum Oocysts and Distinguish C. hominis from C. parvum
- A 590 bp (genotype I) or a 593 bp product (genotype II) following nested PCR is a presumptive positive
for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp.
- The restriction patterns resulting from the digestion of the nested amplicon with restriction endonucleases VspI
and DraII will distinguish between C. parvum and C. hominis (VspI digestion) and C. parvum
from C. baileyi and C. sepentis (DraII digestion).
- Combine 15 µl of the Cryptosporidium nested PCR amplicon with on unit VspI, 2.0 µl of 10x
enzyme buffer, and 0.2 µl BSA solution (include with enzyme). Adjust final volume to 20 µl with sterile
dH2O.
- For digestion with DraII, combine 15 µl of the Cryptosporidium nested PCR amplicon with one
unit DraII, 2.0 µl of 10x enzyme buffer, and adjust final volume to 20 µl.
- Positive controls for C. parvum and other species of Cryptosporidium must be digested in the same
manner and alongside test samples.
- Incubate digestion samples for at least 2 hr at 37°C.
- Analyze samples by gel electrophoresis using a 3% NuSieve gel prepared with 0.5x TAE and 0.2% ethidium bromide.
- Mix 10-15 µl of nested amplification product with 2-3 µl of gel loading solution and load into wells of
gel. Include at least one lane containing 25 bp DNA ladder to estimate the size of restriction fragments present.
- Run the gel at 125 volts (constant voltage) for at least 45 min.
- RFLP patterns can be visualized on the agarose gel by using a UV transilluminator. Photograph the gel to have
a permanent record of the results using a Polaroid Type 667 film (or a digital system)
- Predicted banding patterns confirmatory for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. are listed in Table 13.
Table 13: Evaluation of Nested PCR Amplification and RFLP Analysis to Differentiate Cryptosporidium spp.
Organism |
PCR Amplicon |
RFLP Digestion Products (bp) |
Primary (bp) |
Nested (bp) |
VspI |
DraII |
C. hominis (formerly C. parvum, genotype I) |
844 |
593 |
503 and 90 |
- |
C. parvum (formerly C. parvum, genotype II) |
840 |
590 |
- |
- |
C. baileyi |
831 |
579 |
- |
295 and 284† |
C. serpentis |
836 |
583 |
- |
298 and 284† |
C. muiris |
- |
- |
- |
- |
C. wrairii |
- |
- |
- |
- |
†Indistinguishable within an agarose gel
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Authors: Palmer A. Orlandi, Christian Frazar, Laurenda Carter, and Dan-My T. Chu
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