title: A sensitive and specific PCR assay for the detection of Baylisascaris schroederi eggs in giant panda feces.
abstract: Baylisascaris schroederi is one of the most common intestinal nematodes in giant pandas. It can cause severe baylisascariasis which is highly infectious in its natural hosts. A rapid and reliable diagnosis of parasite infections is crucial to protect giant pandas, as well as for environmental monitoring and disease surveillance. Here, we established a specific PCR assay for B. schroederi detection which was targeting a 331-bp long fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (COII) gene. Fifty fresh fecal samples collected from captive giant pandas were tested by the established PCR assay and the traditional flotation technique. DNA extracted from a single B. schroederi egg could be successfully amplified, while no cross-reactivity was found with DNA from Ancylostoma caninum eggs. The detection rate of the PCR assay was 68%, which was higher than that of the traditional egg flotation (46%). Our findings demonstrated that the PCR assay is sensitive and specific for the detection and identification of B. schroederi eggs. Therefore, it could become a useful tool for the investigation of B. schroederi infections in giant pandas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: De-Sheng
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Yi-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Cheng-Dong
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shi-Jie
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Bo
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xiao-Bin
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Shu-Xian
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xue-Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Guang-You
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017191:Ascaridida Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D001199:Ascaridoidea / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000201:enzymology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D001503:Ursidae
chemical_list: C117108:cytochrome C oxidase subunit II; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Baylisascaris schroederi; Cytochrome c oxidase subunit II gene; Eggs; Giant panda; PCR