Detection of Schistosoma japonicum and Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi environmental DNA and its potential utility to schistosomiasis japonica surveillance in the Philippines.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, the prevalence and infection intensity of Schistosoma japonicum in endemic areas of the Philippines have significantly decreased due to yearly population-based treatment strategies, yet transmission rates remain high and uninterrupted. An important indicator of active disease transmission is the presence of Schistosoma japonicum and its snail intermediate host Oncomelania hupensis quadrasi in freshwater habitats. In this study, we sought to apply a species-specific real-time PCR (qPCR) assay for the detection of S. japonicum and O. hupensis quadrasi in freshwater samples using environmental DNA approach that can complement the commonly utilized malacological survey in determining potential transmission foci in order to have a more effective snail surveillance strategy for

SUBMITTER: Fornillos RJC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6867693 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature