Schistosoma species detection by environmental DNA assays in African freshwaters.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical parasitic disease associated with severe pathology, mortality and economic loss worldwide. Programs for disease control may benefit from specific and sensitive diagnostic methods to detect Schistosoma trematodes in aquatic environments. Here we report the development of novel environmental DNA (eDNA) qPCR assays for the presence of the human-infecting species Schistosoma mansoni, S. haematobium and S. japonicum.

Methodology/principal findings

We first tested the specificity of the assays across the three species using genomic DNA preparations which showed successful amplification of target sequences with no cross amplification between the three focal species. In addition, we evaluated the specificity of the assays using synt

SUBMITTER: Alzaylaee H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7117781 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature