APPLICATION OF MOLECULAR TECHNIQUES TO THE DIAGNOSIS OF MICROSPORIDIAL INFECTION

Microsporidia are now recognized as important pathogens of AIDS patien ts; the ability of these parasites to cause disease in immunocompetent persons is still being elucidated. Improved diagnostic tests for micr osporidial infection are continually being sought for establishing dia gnosis in order to avoid laborious electron microscopy studies that re quire invasively acquired biopsy specimens. Modified trichrome or chem ofluorescent stains are useful for detecting microsporidia in bodily f luids and stool specimens, but they do not allow for speciation of mic rosporidia. Polymerase chain reaction with specific primers will allow the detection and speciation of microsporidia in biopsy tissue, bodil y fluids, and stool specimens.