Detection of Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia in water supply by quantitative real-time PCR

Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia are common pathogenic protozoa in water, which pose high risk to drinking water supply. In the present study, detection of C. parvum and G. lamblia was performed by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Pairs of PCR primers were evaluated for the detection specificity to pathogenic C. parvum and G. lamblia. The recovery of the RT-PCR detection procedure was examined and high recovery rates (i.e., more than 45% for C. parvum and more than 50% for G. lamblia) were achieved. The RT-PCR method was used to detect C. parvum and G. lamblia in a secondary water supply. The results indicated the potential application of the quantitative RT-PCR method in detection of C. parvum and G. lamblia in water supply.