A new duplex real-time PCR for simultaneous detection and differentiation ofand.

Abstract

andare pathogenic avian parasites that infect a wide range of bird species. The pathologic potential ofis controversial, whereascauses disease in many avian species. Infections are often asymptomatic in doves and pigeons; thus, columbids are presumed to represent the natural hosts for trichomonads. The detection ofandis based on direct microscopic observation or a conventional PCR assay. Microscopy is not very sensitive, and identification of the trichomonads at the genus or species level is not possible. Conventional PCR assays have been developed primarily for phylogenetic studies, which detect a wide range ofspp. but do not allow their differentiation. We developed a duplex real-time PCR (rtPCR) assay for the simultaneous detection and differentiation ofand. We found that the rtPCR assay detected 10plasmid DNA copies ofand as few as 10plasmid DNA copies of