Main page     Virology     Parasitology     Reference Laboratory  

The most important laboratory procedures in the National Reference Laboratory for Human Parasitic Diseases

Diagnostic laboratory procedures

Antibody detection

  • Anti-Toxoplasma IgG ELISA
  • Anti-Toxoplasma IgM ELISA
  • Anti-Toxoplasma IgA ELISA
  • Anti-Toxoplasma IgG avidity test by ELISA
  • Anti-Toxoplasma IgG+IgM comparative (mother-child pairs) Western blot
  • Anti-Toxocara IgG ELISA
  • Anti-Toxocara IgG Western blot
  • Anti-Echinococcus IgG ELISA
  • Anti-Echinococcus indirect haemagglutination
  • Anti-Echinococcus granulosus/multilocularis IgG Western blot
  • Anti-Trichinella IgG ELISA
  • Anti-Trichinella antibody detection by microprecipitation
  • Anti-Trichinella IgG Western blot
  • Anti-Entamoeba histolytica indirect haemagglutination
  • Anti-Taenia solium cysticercosis IgG Western blot
  • Anti-Leishmania IgG Western blot
  • Anti-Schistosoma IgG Western blot

Microscopic examinations

  • Direct examination of wet mount preparations
  • Concentration of protozoan cysts
  • Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum by Kinyoun staining
  • Concentration of helminth ova by flotation
  • Concentration of helminth ova by sedimentation
  • Concentration of larvae
  • Examination of anorectal scrape
  • Examination of specimens suspicious for helminthes, identification by morphology
  • Microscopic examination of the content of Echinococcus cysts
  • Homogenization and microscopic examination of sputum
  • Detection of Plasmodium spp. in Giemsa-stained preparations
  • Detection of Trypanosoma spp. in native and stained preparations
  • Detection of microfilariae in blood by Knott concentration technique or in skin specimens
  • Morphologic and histopathologic examination of Dirofilaria spp.
  • Microscopic examination of "free-living" amoebae

Antigen detection

  • Giardia intestinalis antigen detection in stool by ELISA
  • Detection of Entamoeba histolytica-specific lectin-antigen in stool by ELISA
  • Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum antigens by immunchromatography or ELISA
  • Detection of Plasmodium antigens by immunochromatography

Culture

  • Culture of protozoan in Boeck-Drbohlav biphasic egg-slant medium, supplemented with bovine serum
  • Culture of Trichomonas vaginalis in CPLM medium
  • Culture of "free-living" amoebae on Page-agar plates covered with bacteria

Molecular methods

  • Toxoplasma gondii B1 gene specific real-time PCR
  • Toxoplasma gondii B1 gene specific nested PCR
  • Toxoplasma gondii SAG2 gene specific PCR for genotyping the strains after sequential analysis for epidemiological purposes
  • Detection of Plasmodium genus specific DNA by real-time PCR
  • Detection of Plasmodium species specific DNA by seminested multiplex PCR
  • Giardia intestinalis 18S rDNA specific PCR for genotyping after sequential analysis for epidemiological purposes
  • Entamoeba histolytica 18S rDNS gene specific PCR

Maintenance/culture of laboratory control strains

  • Maintenance of T.gondii strain by culture in mice
  • Maintenance of a Trichinella spiralis strain by culture in mice
  • Maintenance of Trichomonas isolates by culture in CPLM medium
  • Maintenance of Blastocystis hominis isolates by culture in egg-slant medium
  • Maintenance of "free-living" amoebae (Acanthamoeba sp., Naegleria fowleri) on Page-agar plates covered with bacteria

 


 

    Department of Parasitology

Activities
Our staff
Reference Laboratory
Scientific relations
Publications
Short history