title: A TaqMan real-time PCR-based assay for the identification of Fasciola spp.
abstract: Real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is one of the key technologies of the post-genome era, with clear advantages compared to normal end-point PCR. In this paper, we report the first qPCR-based assay for the identification of Fasciola spp. Based on sequences of the second internal transcribed spacers (ITS-2) of the ribosomal rRNA gene, we used a set of genus-specific primers for Fasciola ITS-2 amplification, and we designed species-specific internal TaqMan probes to identify F. hepatica and F. gigantica, as well as the hybrid 'intermediate'Fasciola. These primers and probes were used for the highly specific, sensitive, and simple identification of Fasciola species collected from different animal host from China, Spain, Niger and Egypt. The novel qPCR-based technique for the identification of Fasciola spp. may provide a useful tool for the epidemiological investigation of Fasciola infection, including their intermediate snail hosts.
authors.affiliation: Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Avda. Américo Vespucio s/n, 41092 Sevilla, Spain. samer@ebd.csic.es
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alasaad
authors.forename: Ramón C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Soriguer
authors.forename: Marawan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abu-Madi
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: El Behairy
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jowers
authors.forename: Pablo Díez
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Baños
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Píriz
authors.forename: Joerns
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fickel
authors.forename: Xing-Quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics*; D005209:Fasciola / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer