A multiplex PCR that discriminates between Trypanosoma brucei brucei and zoonotic T. b. rhodesiense.
Two subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei s.l. co-exist within the animal populations of Eastern Africa; T. b. brucei a parasite which only infects livestock and wildlife and T. b. rhodesiense a zoonotic parasite which infects domestic livestock, wildlife, and which in humans, results in the disease known as Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness. In order to assess the risk posed to humans from HAT it is necessary to identify animals harbouring potentially human infective parasites. The multiplex PCR method described here permits differentiation of human and non-human infective parasites T. b. rhodesiense and T. b. brucei based on the presence or absence of the SRA gene (specific for East African T. b. rhodesiense), inclusion of GPI-PLC as an internal control indicates whether sufficient genomic material is present for detection of a single copy T. brucei gene in the PCR reaction.
Picozzi
Kim
K
Centre for Infectious Diseases, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, Royal Dick School of Veterinary Science, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK.
Carrington
Mark
M
Welburn
Susan C
SC
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000835:Animals, Wild; D002417:Cattle; D054800:Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D014346:Trypanosoma brucei brucei / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016833:Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000469:parasitology*; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma / Q000235:genetics; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000469:parasitology*
D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D014643:Variant Surface Glycoproteins, Trypanosoma; C403774:serum resistance associated protein, Trypanosoma brucei; D054800:Glycosylphosphatidylinositol Diacylglycerol-Lyase