Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Detection of African animal trypanosomes: the haematocrit centrifugation technique compared to PCR with samples stored on filter paper or in DNA protecting buffer.
- Journal:
- Veterinary parasitology
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Moti, Y et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Microbiology and Veterinary Public Health
Plain-English summary
This study looked at different methods for detecting a parasite called trypanosomes, which can affect cattle. Researchers tested 411 cattle and found that 49 of them had the parasite using a traditional method called the haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT). However, two newer methods using a specific type of DNA test found even more cases: 75 and 124 positive results, respectively, when using samples stored in different ways. The study suggests that using a DNA protective buffer is better because it improves test results and lowers the chance of mixing up samples. Overall, the newer testing methods were more effective than the traditional one.
Abstract
The present study aimed at comparing the trypanosome specific 18S-PCR-RFLP using samples stored either on Whatman filter papers (PCR-RFLP-fp) or in a commercial cell lysis and DNA protecting buffer (PCR-RFLP-pb) with the haematocrit centrifugation technique (HCT), a method widely used for the diagnosis of African Animal Trypanosomosis. Out of 411 head of cattle, 49 (11.92%) (CI=8.95-15.45) scored positive for the presence of trypanosomes by HCT whereas 75 (18.25%) (CI=14.63-22.33) and 124 (30.17%) (CI=25.77-34.86) scored positive using PCR-RFLP-fp and PCR-RFLP-pb, respectively. Out of the 49 positives by HCT, 14 (28.57%) (CI=16.58-43.26) and 28 (57.14%) (CI=42.21-71.18) were concordant by PCR-RFLP-fp and PCR-RFLP-pb, respectively. None of the PCR techniques detected parasites from the Trypanozoon group. Although HCT detected more cases of Trypanosoma vivax (33), species identification using PCR-RFLP-fp and PCR-RFLP-pb were significantly different (p<0.001) from the HCT technique. The use of DNA protective buffer is thus recommended as the output of the PCR-RFLP-pb is improved and the risk of contamination between samples is reduced.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24836424/