title: Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for the detection and quantification of dactylogyrid parasites infecting Lutjanus guttatus.
abstract: Severe infections of the spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus resulting from dactylogyrid monogeneans present a risk to aquaculture. Currently, the diagnosis of this infection requires the morphological identification and manual quantification of parasites. Based on the characterization of the 28S rRNA gene of dactylogyrid species present in L. guttatus, specific primers were designed for real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using EvaGreen® chemistry. The standard curve method estimated the number of dactylogyrids accurately. A total of 85 gill samples from cage-cultured fish infected with dactylogyrids were analysed. The estimated number of dactylogyrids using this molecular method was very similar to the manual count that was performed initially. The standardized qPCR approach will be helpful as a complementary method for the early routine monitoring of dactylogyrid infections and for epidemiological studies in which a high number of fish must be studied.
authors.affiliation: Posgrado en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Mazatlán,Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,Avenida Joel Montes Camarena s/n, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, C.P. 82040,México.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Soler-Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitología,Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo,A.C. Unidad Mazatlán en Acuicultura y Manejo Ambiental, Avenida Sábalo Cerritos s/n, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, C.P. 82010,México.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: García-Gasca
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Parasitología,Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo,A.C. Unidad Mazatlán en Acuicultura y Manejo Ambiental, Avenida Sábalo Cerritos s/n, Mazatlán, Sinaloa, C.P. 82010,México.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Fajer-Ávila
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D005399:Fishes; D005880:Gills / Q000469:parasitology; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D014200:Trematoda / Q000235:genetics*; D014201:Trematode Infections / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*