Simultaneous Molecular Detection of Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora from Raw Vegetables in Korea.
10.3347/kjp.2017.55.2.137
- Author:
Seobo SIM
1
;
Jua WON
;
Jae Whan KIM
;
Kyungjin KIM
;
Woo Yoon PARK
;
Jae Ran YU
Author Information
1. Department of Environmental and Tropical Medicine & International Healthcare Research Institute, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul 05029, Korea. maria205@kku.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Cryptosporidium parvum;
Cyclospora cayetanensis;
vegetable;
real-time PCR;
Korea
- MeSH:
Blueberry Plant;
Brassica;
Chive;
Cryptosporidium parvum;
Cryptosporidium*;
Cyclospora*;
Korea*;
Mass Screening;
Perilla;
Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction;
Vegetables*
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2017;55(2):137-142
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora are well-known coccidian protozoa that can cause waterborne and foodborne diarrheal illnesses. There have been a few reports regarding contamination in different vegetables with Cryptosporidium, but no data are available regarding the sources of Cyclospora infections in Korea. In the present study, we collected 6 kinds of vegetables (perilla leaves, winter-grown cabbages, chives, sprouts, blueberries, and cherry tomatoes) from July 2014 to June 2015, and investigated contamination by these 2 protozoa using multiplex quantitative real-time PCR. Among 404 vegetables, Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora were detected in 31 (7.7%) and 5 (1.2%) samples, respectively. In addition, Cryptosporidium was isolated from all 6 kinds of vegetables, whereas Cyclospora was detected in 4 kinds of vegetables (except perilla leaves and chives). Cryptosporidium (17.8%) and Cyclospora (2.9%) had the highest detection rates in chives and winter-grown cabbages, respectively. Cryptosporidium was detected all year long; however, Cyclospora was detected only from October to January. In 2 samples (sprout and blueberry), both Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora were detected. Further investigations using TaqI restriction enzyme fragmentation and nested PCR confirmed Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis, respectively. In conclusion, we detected C. cayetanensis in vegetables for the first time in Korea. This suggests that screening should be employed to prevent these protozoal infections in Korea.
