Sporadic cyclosporiasis in symptomatic Cuban patients: Confirmation of positive results from conventional diagnostic methods by molecular assay

Abstract

In Cuba, there are few studies on cyclosporiasis. Here, we report results from 1247 stool samples from symptomatic patients that were examined by microscopy methods and positive cases confirmed by nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing. Seven positive samples, all diagnosed during May-June, were confirmed by the molecular method, indicating an occurrence in this patient cohort of 0.56%.

Keywords: Cuba; Cyclospora; Diagnosis; Microscopy; Molecular methods; Prevalence.