Search

Cryptosporidium parvumis an emerging protozoan parasite responsible for several serious outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis, an enteric infection characterized by severe intestinal distress. This parasite can be transmitted through contaminated water and raw food in the oocyst form, which is resistant to many environmental stresses and food processes. C. parvumis also commonly found on dairy farms and could be transmitted to humans through contaminated raw milk and dairy products. Thus, an immunomagnetic separation–polymerase chain reaction assay for direct detection of C. parvumoocysts in milk was developed. The procedure was able to detect <10 C. parvumoocysts. Thus, it could be used for monitoring milk samples.

A polymerase chain reaction test was developed to detect Brucellaspp. directly in milk and cheese and optimized using primers for the BSCP-31 gene. A total of 46 cheese samples produced with sheep and goats milk were assayed, and Brucellaspp. was detected in 46% of them, especially in cheese made from sheep milk. This method is of remarkable epidemiologic interest because it is an indirect test indicating the sanitary quality of milk used in dairy industries. The method showed good sensitivity and specificity. It is faster and less expensive than the conventional bacteriological assays.