Current and emerging tools for detecting protozoan cysts and oocysts in water

Publication date: Available online 15 October 2019Source: TrAC Trends in Analytical ChemistryAuthor(s): Sona Jain, Thyago Gois Costa Melo, Silvio Santana Dolabella, Juewen LiuAbstractWater-borne protozoan parasites like Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Entamoeba and Toxoplasma are responsible for 1.7 billion cases of diarrhea globally, representing the second most frequent reason for mortality among children under five. They show an environmentally resistant cyst/oocyst stage. Despite their importance, the standard analytical methods for their detection still rely on immunostaining followed by microscopic analysis. In recent years, new methods have been reported with potential for improved environmental diagnosis. This review focuses on the cyst and oocysts of the common water-borne protozoan parasites and explores the biosensors and nanotechnology-based options for their detection in the environment. New developments including the use of aptamers to replace antibodies, use of nanomaterials to substitute organic dyes, and the development of new signaling methods such as surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and cantilever based mass measurement are detailed. Some future research opportunities are discussed to address the current limitations of the analytical methods.
Source: TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research