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Polymerase chain reaction for detecting Onchocerca volvulus in pools of blackflies
Author(s) -
Oskam L.,
Schoone G. J.,
Kroon C. C. M.,
Lujan R.,
Davies J. B.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1996.d01-95.x
Subject(s) - onchocerca volvulus , microfilaria , onchocerciasis , biology , onchocerca , volvulus , loa loa , polymerase chain reaction , filariasis , zoology , helminths , immunology , medicine , surgery , genetics , gene
Summary The detection of Onchocerca volvulus infected simuliids or blackflies is routinely done by dissection and microscopic examination of individual flies, but this method is tedious and time consuming. Here we describe a method of detecting single O. volvulus infected blackflies in pools of uninfected blackflies. Using a PCR with Onchocerca specific primers it is possible to reproducibly detect one heavily infected blackfly in a pool of 80 flies, or to detect one blackfly inoculated with one microfilaria in a pool of 20 flies. With the method described large numbers of blackflies can be rapidly screened for the presence of O. volvulus infected flies.