title: Use of Molecular Methods for the Rapid Mass Detection ofSchistosoma mansoni(Platyhelminthes: Trematoda) inBiomphalariaspp. (Gastropoda: Planorbidae).
abstract: The low stringency-polymerase chain reaction (LS-PCR) and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assays were used to detect the presence ofS. mansoniDNA in (1) Brazilian intermediate hosts (Biomphalaria glabrata,B. straminea,andB. tenagophila) with patentS. mansoniinfections, (2)B. glabratasnails with prepatentS. mansoniinfections, (3) various mixtures of infected and noninfected snails; and (4) snails infected with other trematode species. The assays showed high sensitivity and specificity and could detectS. mansoniDNA when one positive snail was included in a pool of 1,000 negative specimens ofBiomphalaria. These molecular approaches can provide a low-cost, effective, and rapid method for detecting the presence ofS. mansoniin pooled samples of field-collectedBiomphalaria. These assays should aid mapping of transmission sites in endemic areas, especially in low prevalence regions and improve schistosomiasis surveillance. It will be a useful tool to monitor low infection rates of snails in areas where control interventions are leading towards the elimination of schistosomiasis.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Lima
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4706-0732
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.affiliation: Moluscário Lobato Paraense, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Liana Konovaloffi
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Jannotti-Passos
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Helmintologia e Malacologia Médica, Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou/Fiocruz, Av. Augusto de Lima, 1715 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dos Santos Carvalho