title: Application of a real-time PCR method for detecting and monitoring hookworm Necator americanus infections in Southern China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop a quantitative PCR method for detecting hookworm infection and quantification.
  
  
  METHODS
  A real-time PCR method was designed based on the intergenic region II of ribosomal DNA of the hookworm Necator americanus. The detection limit of this method was compared with the microscopy-based Kato-Katz method. The real-time PCR method was used to conduct an epidemiological survey of hookworm infection in southern Fujian Province of China.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The real-time PCR method was specific for detecting Necator americanus infection, and was more sensitive than conventional PCR or microscopy-based method. A preliminary survey for hookworm infection in villages of Fujian Province confirmed the high prevalence of hookworm infections in the resident populations. In addition, the infection rate in women was significantly higher than that of in men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A real-time PCR method is designed, which has increased detection sensitivity for more accurate epidemiological studies of hookworm infections, especially when intensity of the infection needs to be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Xiamen Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiamen 361021, Fujian, China ; School of Life Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Xu
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cang-Sang
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Li-Wang
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D017221:Necator americanus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009332:Necatoriasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018571:Sentinel Surveillance; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth
keywords: Detection method; Epidemiology; Hookworm; Infection rate