Cryptosporidium Metagenome

Infections with protozoan parasites associated with the consumption of fresh produce is an emerging issue, particularly in developed countries. While numerous foodborne disease outbreaks have been reported in recent years, the surveillance and epidemiology of these parasites have been hampered by the lack of adequate methods for their detection and identification. In this study, we performed metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) using a MinION sequencer for the detection of parasites from intentionally contaminated lettuce, which allowed for an objective approach in identifying pathogens more rapidly and precisely than traditional molecular or microscopical methods.