title: Optimisation of a droplet digital PCR assay for the diagnosis of Schistosoma japonicum infection: A duplex approach with DNA binding dye chemistry.
abstract: Schistosomiasis is a chronically debilitating helminth infection with a significant socio-economic and public health impact. Accurate diagnostics play a pivotal role in achieving current schistosomiasis control and elimination goals. However, many of the current diagnostic procedures, which rely on detection of schistosome eggs, have major limitations including lack of accuracy and the inability to detect pre-patent infections. DNA-based detection methods provide a viable alternative to the current tests commonly used for schistosomiasis diagnosis. Here we describe the optimisation of a novel droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) duplex assay for the diagnosis of Schistosoma japonicum infection which provides improved detection sensitivity and specificity. The assay involves the amplification of two specific and abundant target gene sequences in S. japonicum; a retrotransposon (SjR2) and a portion of a mitochondrial gene (nad1). The assay detected target sequences in different sources of schistosome DNA isolated from adult worms, schistosomules and eggs, and exhibits a high level of specificity, thereby representing an ideal tool for the detection of low levels of parasite DNA in different clinical samples including parasite cell free DNA in the host circulation and other bodily fluids. Moreover, being quantitative, the assay can be used to determine parasite infection intensity and, could provide an important tool for the detection of low intensity infections in low prevalence schistosomiasis-endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Saliyapura, Sri Lanka. Electronic address: Kosala.Weerakoon@qimrberghofer.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kosala G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Weerakoon
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Geoffrey N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Gobert
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Pengfei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Molecular Parasitology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Donald P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: McManus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D018626:Retroelements; D012549:Schistosoma japonicum / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012554:Schistosomiasis japonica / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018626:Retroelements
keywords: Diagnosis; Droplet digital PCR; Schistosoma japonicum; Schistosomiasis