Genetic Diversity of Trichomonas Vaginalis Clinical Isolates According to Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis of the 60-kDa Proteinase Gene.

Introducction: Trichomonas vaginalis is a highly prevalent parasitic that causes the sexually transmitted disease trichomoniasis with some serious health complications. More understanding about genetic features of the parasite can be helpful in the study of the pathogenesis, epidemiology of the infection and drug susceptibility. For this end, we conducted analysis of a fragment (23 kDa) of the p60 of T.

[Single-chain antibodies from alpaca for the detection of Fasciola hepatica antigens].

Objectives.: To produce recombinant single-chain antibodies from alpaca that will bind to the excreted-secreted (ES) Fasciola hepatica antigen with high affinity and specificity, so as to develop new diagnostic technologies of human and animal fascioliasis.

Materials And Methods.

Antiretroviral activity of protease inhibitors against Toxoplasma gondii.

The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has caused a marked reduction in the occurrence and severity of parasitic infections, including the toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE). These changes have been attributed to the restoration of cell-mediated immunity. This study was developed to examine the activity of six antiretroviral protease inhibitors (API) on Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites.

Conventional polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of neurotoxoplasmosis: comparison of three sets of primers for the B1 gene using CSF samples.

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has made a significant improvement in the diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE). Nevertheless, a wide variety of targets and primers has been used in different assays, and few comparative studies had been carried out. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of 3 conventional PCR methods by using 3 sets of primers targeting the repetitive B1 gene in the diagnosis of TE.

HIV Protease Inhibitors: Effect on the Opportunistic Protozoan Parasites.

The impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the natural history of AIDS disease has been allowed to prolong the survival of people with HIV infection, particularly whose with increased HIV viral load. Additionally, the antiretroviral therapy could exert a certain degree of protection against parasitic diseases. A number of studies have been evidenced a decrease in the incidence of opportunistic parasitic infections in the era of HAART.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in cerebrospinal fluid from AIDS patients by nested PCR and rapid identification of type I allele at B1 gene by RFLP analysis.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has decreased the incidence of opportunistic infections in the central nervous system (CNS) in AIDS patients. However, toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) still represents the most common cerebral mass lesion in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The aim of this study was to evaluate nested PCR-B1 using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to detect Toxoplasma gondii DNA for the diagnosis of TE.

Molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cerebrospinal fluid from AIDS patients.

Background: Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is one of the most common opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. In Cuba, despite the highly active antiretroviral therapy, TE is still the most important cause of cerebral mass lesions in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The detection of Toxoplasma gondii by PCR may facilitate the diagnosis and follow-up of TE in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients by direct identification of parasite DNA in clinical samples.

Comparison of four DNA extraction methods from cerebrospinal fluid for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii by polymerase chain reaction in AIDS patients.

Background: Toxoplasmosis is a serious and often life-threatening disease in immunodeficient patients. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays allow a rapid diagnosis of Toxoplasma infection by direct detection of the parasite's DNA. To perform a sensitive, specific, and reliable PCR-based diagnostic test, the availability of pure DNA lacking PCR inhibitors as well as a rapid and easy-to-perform DNA extraction protocol are essential.