A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay to identify isotype 1 β-tubulin locus SNPs in synthetic double-stranded Haemonchus contortus DNA

Next-generation sequencing technologies for helminth diagnostics and surveillance in ruminants: shifting diagnostic barriers

Helminth infections in grazing ruminants are a major issue for livestock farming globally, but are unavoidable in outdoor grazing systems and must be effectively managed to avoid deleterious effects to animal health, and productivity. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies are transforming our understanding of the genetic basis of anthelmintic resistance (AR) and epidemiological studies of ruminant gastrointestinal parasites. They also have the potential to not only help develop and validate molecular diagnostic tests but to be directly used in routine diagnostics integrating species-specific identification and AR into a single test. Here, we review how these developments have opened the pathway for the development of multi-AR and multispecies identification in a single test, with widespread implications for sustainable livestock farming for the future.

Sensitive and rapid detection of Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus

Background

Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus are closely related to human life, and transmit a variety of viruses, causing serious harm to human health. Cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene has been selected as a marker gene for studying phylogeny and molecular evolution of species and is also an effective molecular marker for studying the evolutionary mechanism and systematic reconstruction of diptera insects.

Methods

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method for the rapid and sensitive detection of Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus were first described in this study. The experimental results were verified by real-time PCR.

Results

Our study showed the lower limit of sample concentration that can be detected by LAMP method is 0.5 pg/μl within 20 min for Cx. pipiens, and 1 pg/μl within 20 min for Ae. albopictus, which were more sensitive than PCR method. Validation tests with field samples showed LAMP method had good specificity and sensitivity and could identify the target species quickly and accurately.

Conclusion

The LAMP method developed in this study allowed the rapid and sensitive detection of Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus, which will be expected to be used for mass screening in batches of the field.