RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Polley, Spencer D. A1 Boadi, Samuel A1 Watson, Julie A1 Curry, Alan A1 Chiodini, Peter L.YR 2011 T1 Detection and species identification of microsporidial infections using SYBR Green real-time PCR JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 60 IS 4 SP 459 OP 466 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.026781-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB Diagnosis of microsporidial infections is routinely performed by light microscopy, with unequivocal non-molecular species identification achievable only through electron microscopy. This study describes a single SYBR Green real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection and species identification of such infections. This assay was highly sensitive, routinely detecting infections containing 400 parasites (g stool sample)−1, whilst species identification was achieved by differential melt curves on a Corbett Life Science Rotor-Gene 3000. A modification of the QIAamp DNA tissue extraction protocol allowed the semi-automated extraction of DNA from stools for the routine diagnosis of microsporidial infection by real-time PCR. Of 168 stool samples routinely analysed for microsporidian spores, only five were positive by microscopy. By comparison, 17 were positive for microsporidial DNA by real-time analysis, comprising 14 Enterocytozoon bieneusi, one Encephalitozoon cuniculi and two separate Pleistophora species infections., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.026781-0