Hoti S L, Vasuki V, Lizotte M W, Patra K P, Ravi G, Vanamail P, Manonmani A, Sabesan S, Krishnamoorthy K, Williams S A
Vector Control Research Centre (ICMR), Medical Complex, Indira Nagar, Pondicherry, 605 006, India.
Bull Entomol Res. 2001 Apr;91(2):87-92.
An Hha 1 based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay developed for the detection of Brugia malayi, the causative agent of Brugian lymphatic filariasis, was evaluated for its sensitivity in the laboratory and for its usefulness in measuring changes in transmission of the disease in the field. Laboratory studies showed that the new assay was highly sensitive in comparison with the standard dissection and microscopy technique. The assay can detect as little as 4 pg of parasite DNA or a single microfilaria in pools of up to 100 mosquitoes. The optimum pool size for convenience was found to be 50 mosquitoes per pool. The efficacy of PCR assay was evaluated in filariasis control programmes in operation in endemic areas of Kerala State, South India. The infection rates obtained by the Hha I PCR assay and the conventional dissection and microscopy technique were 1.2% and 1.7% respectively in operational areas and 8.3% and 4.4% respectively, in check areas, which were not significantly different (P < 0.05). Thus, the Hha I PCR assay was found to be as sensitive as the conventional technique and hence it can be used as a new epidemiological tool for assessing parasite infection in field-collected mosquitoes.
为检测布鲁氏丝虫病的病原体马来布鲁线虫而开发的基于Hha I的聚合酶链反应（PCR）检测法，在实验室中评估了其敏感性，并在实地评估了其在测量该疾病传播变化方面的实用性。实验室研究表明，与标准解剖和显微镜技术相比，新检测法具有高度敏感性。该检测法能够在多达100只蚊子的样本中检测到低至4 pg的寄生虫DNA或单个微丝蚴。为方便起见，发现最佳样本量为每样本50只蚊子。在印度南部喀拉拉邦流行地区实施的丝虫病控制项目中评估了PCR检测法的效力。在实施地区，通过Hha I PCR检测法和传统解剖及显微镜技术获得的感染率分别为1.2%和1.7%，在对照地区分别为8.3%和4.4%，两者无显著差异（P < 0.05）。因此，发现Hha I PCR检测法与传统技术一样敏感，因此它可作为一种新的流行病学工具，用于评估野外采集蚊子中的寄生虫感染情况。
