Development of rapid tools for Cryptosporidium species identification

Cryptosporidium is a protozoan parasite that causes the diarrhoeal disease cryptosporidiosis. It is a key concern for water utilities and health regulators because it is common in source waters, highly transmissible, difficult to inactivate and has limited effective drug treatments. There are 26 species of Cryptosporidium but only two, C. hominis and C. parvum, are of public health concern because they cause >90% of infections. this project evaluated and improved PCR assays for Cryptosporidium detection and developed new novel PCR assays for Cryptosporidium species identification.

Honours Thesis completed by Anna M. Wilson in November 2013.