title: Application of DNA-based diagnostics in detection of schistosomal DNA in early infection and after drug treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research is now focused on identification of sensitive and specific diagnostic tests for early identification of schistosomal infection and evaluation of chemotherapy in field situations in China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study compared loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) with conventional PCR as DNA-based diagnostic techniques for the early detection of schistosomal DNA and the evaluation of chemotherapy. The results showed that both PCR and LAMP assays targeting a 301 base pair (bp) sequence of the highly repetitive retrotransposon, SjR2, amplified DNA from schistosomes but were unable to distinguish between schistosome species. LAMP and conventional PCR were shown to amplify the target sequence of the SjR2-pCR2.1 recombinant plasmid template with limits of detection of 10⁻⁴ ng and 10⁻² ng, respectively, thus demonstrating the superior sensitivity of the LAMP method. Schistosoma japonicum DNA was detected in all serum samples obtained from the three experimental groups at 1 week post-infection by LAMP assay, while the rate of detection by conventional PCR ranged from 50% to 66%. The potential application of PCR and LAMP assays for the evaluation of artesunate and praziquantel chemotherapy was investigated. PCR was shown to be less sensitive for detection of schistosomal DNA in drug-treated rabbit sera than the LAMP method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data presented here indicate that LAMP is suitable for the detection of early infection in the groups primarily infected with Schistosoma japonicum, such as migrants, travellers, military personnel and the younger age groups. However, it is less suitable for evaluation of the efficacy of chemotherapy in the early stages because of its high sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathogen Biology & Immunology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China.
authors.forename: Cen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xuren
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Wanquan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Minjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Chuanxin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Guanling
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D037621:Artemisinins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077332:Artesunate; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D010274:Parasitology / Q000379:methods*; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D037621:Artemisinins; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D000077332:Artesunate; D011223:Praziquantel