微小隐孢子虫造成的公共卫生问题促使供水行业开发非常准确的分析工具，以评估水中这种寄生虫的存在。常规用于检测水中隐孢子虫卵囊的基于间接免疫荧光分析（IFA）的经典方法耗时且对影响人类的微小隐孢子虫没有特异性。为了规避这些限制，利用TaqMan荧光检测系统（TaqMan PCR）开发了基于实时定量PCR的定量检测。 TaqMan PCR利用一个特异性荧光探针和两个引物鉴定了微小隐孢子虫基因组序列的138个碱基对片段。该系统使用高性能的DNA聚合酶进行核酸扩增，并使用带有内部荧光DNA探针的5'核酸酶分析进行实时定量。荧光强度与微小隐球菌靶DNA序列的拷贝数成正比，并用自动荧光计检测。通过比较从样本中获得的荧光信号与未知数量的C。 微小隐孢子虫卵囊的荧光信号来自微小隐孢子虫卵囊标准稀释液。这种实时定量PCR分析可以在三小时内在6对数动态范围内对微小隐球菌卵囊进行可靠定量。这种分子测试将对水工业非常有用；它可用于饮用水质量控制、处理效率评估和风险源识别。包括11个参考文献、图表。

The public health problem posed by Cryptosporidium parvum has urged the water supply industry to develop very accurate analytical tools to assess the presence of this parasite in water. The classical method based on indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) routinely used for the detection of Cryptosporidium oocysts in water is time-consuming and non-specific for C. parvum, the species which affects humans. In order to circumvent these limitations, a quantitative test based on real-time quantitative PCR using the TaqMan fluorogenic detection system (TaqMan PCR) was developed. TaqMan PCR identified a 138 base pair section of a Cryptosporidium parvum genomic sequence by using a specific fluorogenic probe and two primers. This system used the high performance of DNA polymerase for nucleic amplification and a 5'nuclease assay with an internal fluorogenic DNA probe for real-time quantitation. Fluorescence intensity was directly proportional to the copy number of the C. parvum target DNA sequence and was detected with an automated fluorometer. Quantitation was accomplished by comparing the fluorescence signals obtained from samples with unknown numbers of C. parvum oocysts with fluorescence signals from C. parvum oocysts standard dilutions. This real time quantitative PCR assay allows reliable quantitation of C. parvum oocysts over a 6-log dynamic range within three hours. This molecular test will be very useful for the water industry; it can be used for drinking water quality control as well as for the evaluation of treatment efficiency and the identification of risk resources. Includes 11 references, figures.