Development and application of an eDNA method to detect and quantify a pathogenic parasite in aquatic ecosystems.

ABSTRACT: Approaches based on organismal DNA found in the environment (eDNA) have become increasingly utilized for ecological studies and biodiversity inventories as an alternative to traditional field survey methods. Such DNA-based techniques have largely been used to establish the presence of free-living organisms, but have much potential for detecting and quantifying infectious agents in the environment, which is necessary to evaluate disease risk. We developed an eDNA method to examine the distribution and abundance of the trematode Ribeiroia ondatrae, a pathogenic parasite known to cause malformations in North American amphibians. In addition to comparing this eDNA approach to classical host necropsy, we examined the detectability of R. ondatrae in water samples subject to different degradation

SUBMITTER: Huver JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4570504 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature