| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Angiostrongylus cantonensis </it>is a zoonotic parasite that causes eosinophilic meningitis in humans. The most common source of infection with <it>A. cantonensis </it>is the consumption of raw or undercooked mollusks (e.g., snails and slugs) harbouring infectious third-stage larvae (L<sub>3</sub>). However, the parasite is difficult to identify in snails. The purpose of this study was to develop a quick, simple molecular method to survey for <it>A. cantonensis </it>in intermediate host snails.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We used a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay, which was performed using <it>Bst </it>DNA polymerase. Reactions amplified the <it>A. cantonensis </it>18S rRNA gene and demonstrated high sensitivity; as little as 1 fg of DNA was detected in the samples. Furthermore, no cross-reactivity was found with other parasites such as <it>Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma japonicum, Clonorchis sinensis, Paragonimus westermani </it>and <it>Anisakis</it>. <it>Pomacea canaliculata </it>snails were exposed to <it>A. cantonensis </it>first-stage larvae (L<sub>1</sub>) in the laboratory, and L<sub>3 </sub>were observed in the snails thirty-five days after infection. All nine samples were positive as determined by the LAMP assay for <it>A. cantonensis</it>, which was identified as positive by using PCR and microscopy, this demonstrates that LAMP is sensitive and effective for diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>LAMP is an appropriate diagnostic method for the routine identification of <it>A. cantonensis </it>within its intermediate host snail <it>P. canaliculata </it>because of its simplicity, sensitivity, and specificity. It holds great promise as a useful monitoring tool for <it>A. cantonensis </it>in endemic regions.</p>
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