Specific PCR primers for Cryptosporidium parvum with extra high sensitivity.

One pair of high-sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for Cryptosporidium parvum was constructed based on the sequence of random amplified polymorphic DNA. PCR with this primer pair amplified only the DNA of C. parvum, not the control DNA including Cryptosporidium muris. This primer pair had most advantageous in its sensitivity over the six pairs of primers reported elsewhere. The minimum amount of template DNA required to produce visible bands after gel electrophoresis and ethidium bromide staining was 0.156 pg of C. parvum or just a single oocyst in the PCR tube. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.