Development of a sensitive assay for the detection of Pseudoloma neurophilia in laboratory populations of the zebrafish Danio rerio.

ABSTRACT: The zebrafish Danio rerio is an increasingly important biological model in many areas of research. Due to the potential for non-protocol-induced variation, diseases of zebrafish, especially those resulting in chronic, sub-lethal infections, are of great concern. The microsporidium Pseudoloma neurophilia is a common parasite of laboratory zebrafish. Current methods for detection of this parasite require lethal sampling of fish, which is often undesirable with poorly spawning mutant lines and small populations. We present here an improved molecular-based diagnostic assay using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and including sonication treatment prior to DNA extraction. Comparisons of several DNA extraction methods were performed to determine the method providing the maximum sensitiv

SUBMITTER: Sanders JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3358228 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature