Development and application of a multiplex TaqMan® real-time qPCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata and molecular characterization of Anaplasma marginale from cattle in Western Cuba.

Abstract Background The present study was aimed at establishing the prevalence, epidemiology and molecular characterization of major haemoprotozoons (Babesia and Theileria) and rickettsia (Anaplasma) of cattle in Jammu region (North India) using microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Hematology, microscopy and PCR based prevalence studies were undertaken with 278 whole blood samples from cattle. Molecular prevalence studies were followed by genetic characterization of the isolates of Babesia, Anaplasma and Theileria spp. based on 18S rRNA, 16S rRNA and Tams1 gene, respectively. The data related to metrology and epidemiological variables like temperature, rainfall, season, age and type of livestock rearing was analyzed and correlated with occurrence of disease by statistical methods. Results The prevalence based on microscopy was 12.9% (36/278) whereas PCR recorded 30.22% (84/278) animals positive for haemoparasitic infections. All the samples found positive by microscopy were also recorded positive by PCR. Thus the study revealed prevalence of Babesia bigemina, Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata to be 9.7, 16.5 and 0.7% respectively. The metrological and epidemiological variables made inroads for the propagation of vector ticks and occurrence of infection. Haematological alterations predominantly related to decrease in haemoglobin, red blood cell count and packed cell volume were evident in diseased animals and collaterally affected the productivity. Further the genetic characterization of Babesia bigemina. (MN566925.1, MN567603, MN566924.1), Anaplasma marginale. (MH733242.1, MN567602.1) and Theileria annulata (MT113479) provided a representative data of the isolates circulating in the region and their proximity with available sequences across the world. Conclusions Despite holding much significance to the animal sector, comprehensive disease mapping has yet not been undertaken in several parts of India. The present study provides a blue print of disease mapping, epidemiological correlations and genomic diversity of Babesia bigemina, Anaplasma marginale and Theileria annulata circulating in the region.

Download Full-text

Molecular Characterization of Giardia duodenalis in Children and Adults Sampled in Algeria

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9010054 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 54

Author(s):

Salem Belkessa ◽

Daniel Thomas-Lopez ◽

Karim Houali ◽

Farida Ghalmi ◽

Christen Rune Stensvold

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Giardia Duodenalis ◽

Specific Pcr ◽

Stool Samples ◽

Pcr Targeting ◽

Assemblage B

The molecular epidemiology of giardiasis in Africa remains unclear. A study was carried out across four hospitals in Algeria. A total of 119 fecal samples from 55 children, 37 adults, and 27 individuals of undetermined age, all scored positive for intestinal parasites by microscopy, and were screened by real-time PCR for Giardia. Molecular characterization of Giardia was performed by assemblage-specific PCR and PCR targeting the triose phosphate isomerase gene (tpi). Of the 119 samples, 80 (67%) were Giardia-positive by real-time PCR. For 48 moderately-highly real-time PCR-positive samples, tpi genotyping assigned 22 samples to Assemblage A and 26 to Assemblage B. Contrary to Assemblage A, Assemblage B exhibited substantial genetic diversity and allelic heterozygosity. Assemblage-specific PCR proved to be specific for discriminating Assemblage A or B but not as sensitive as tpi genotyping. We confirmed that real-time PCR is more sensitive than microscopy for detecting Giardia in stool samples and that robust amplification and sequencing of the tpi gene is feasible when moderate-to-strongly real-time PCR-positive samples are used. This study is one of the few performed in Africa providing genotyping data on Giardia infections in humans. Both assemblages A and B were commonly seen and not associated with specific sociodemographic data.

Download Full-text

Molecular characterization of Anaplasma marginale based on the msp1a and msp1b genes

Veterinary Microbiology ◽

10.1016/j.vetmic.2021.109236 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 109236

Author(s):

Witchuta Junsiri ◽

Amaya Watthanadirek ◽

Napassorn Poolsawat ◽

Sutthida Minsakorn ◽

Pornpiroon Nooroong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Characterization ◽

Anaplasma Marginale

Download Full-text

Real‐time molecular characterization of air pollutants in a Hong Kong residence: Implication of indoor source emissions and heterogeneous chemistry

Indoor Air ◽

10.1111/ina.12826 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Xiaopu Lyu ◽

Yunxi Huo ◽

Jin Yang ◽

Dawen Yao ◽

Kaimin Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Real Time ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Heterogeneous Chemistry

Download Full-text

Molecular characterization of eukaryotic algal communities in the tropical phyllosphere based on real-time sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene

BMC Plant Biology ◽

10.1186/s12870-018-1588-7 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Huan Zhu ◽

Shuyin Li ◽

Zhengyu Hu ◽

Guoxiang Liu

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Molecular Characterization ◽

18S Rdna ◽

Algal Communities ◽

Rdna Gene ◽

18S Rdna Gene

Download Full-text

A Real-Time PCR Assay for Simultaneous Detection and Differentiation of Four Common Entamoeba Species That Infect Humans

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.01986-20 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. e01986-20

Author(s):

Ibne Karim M. Ali ◽

Shantanu Roy

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Simultaneous Detection ◽

Small Subunit ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Content Type ◽

Rdna Sequences ◽

Appropriate Treatment

ABSTRACTThere are over 40 species within the genus Entamoeba, eight of which infect humans. Of these, four species (Entamoeba histolytica, E. dispar, E. moshkovskii, and E. bangladeshi) are morphologically indistinguishable from each other, and yet differentiation is important for appropriate treatment decisions. Here, we developed a hydrolysis probe-based tetraplex real-time PCR assay that can simultaneously detect and differentiate these four species in clinical samples. In this assay, multicopy small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences were used as targets. We determined that the tetraplex real-time PCR can detect amebic DNA corresponding to as little as a 0.1 trophozoite equivalent of any of these species. We also determined that this assay can detect E. histolytica DNA in the presence of 10-fold more DNA from another Entamoeba species in mixed-infection scenarios. With a panel of more than 100 well-characterized clinical samples diagnosed and confirmed using a previously published duplex real-time PCR (capable of detecting E. histolytica and E. dispar), our tetraplex real-time PCR assay demonstrated levels of sensitivity and specificity comparable with those demonstrated by the duplex real-time PCR assay. The advantage of our assay over the duplex assay is that it can specifically detect two additional Entamoeba species and can be used in conventional PCR format. This newly developed assay will allow further characterization of the epidemiology and pathogenicity of the four morphologically identical Entamoeba species, especially in low-resource settings.

Download Full-text

Improved HF183 Quantitative Real-Time PCR Assay for Characterization of Human Fecal Pollution in Ambient Surface Water Samples

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.04137-13 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 80 (10) ◽

pp. 3086-3094 ◽

Cited By ~ 115

Author(s):

Hyatt C. Green ◽

Richard A. Haugland ◽

Manju Varma ◽

Hana T. Millen ◽

Mark A. Borchardt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Surface Waters ◽

Real Time Pcr ◽

Fecal Pollution ◽

Qpcr Assay ◽

Taqman Assay ◽

Reference Database ◽

Quantitative Real Time Pcr ◽

Ambient Surface

ABSTRACTQuantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays that target the human-associated HF183 bacterial cluster within members of the genusBacteroidesare among the most widely used methods for the characterization of human fecal pollution in ambient surface waters. In this study, we show that a current TaqMan HF183 qPCR assay (HF183/BFDrev) routinely forms nonspecific amplification products and introduce a modified TaqMan assay (HF183/BacR287) that alleviates this problem. The performance of each qPCR assay was compared in head-to-head experiments investigating limits of detection, analytical precision, predicted hybridization to 16S rRNA gene sequences from a reference database, and relative marker concentrations in fecal and sewage samples. The performance of the modified HF183/BacR287 assay is equal to or improves upon that of the original HF183/BFDrev assay. In addition, a qPCR chemistry designed to combat amplification inhibition and a multiplexed internal amplification control are included. In light of the expanding use of PCR-based methods that rely on the detection of extremely low concentrations of DNA template, such as qPCR and digital PCR, the new TaqMan HF183/BacR287 assay should provide more accurate estimations of human-derived fecal contaminants in ambient surface waters.

Download Full-text