Comparison of polymerase chain reaction and microscopy for the detection of spp. in the fecal matter of domestic bovines in Kalasin Province, Thailand.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

spp. are important foodborne trematodes and waterborne zoonotic parasites that cause health problems and economic losses worldwide, including in Thailand. spp. are usually detected by sedimentation or the formalin-ethyl acetate concentration technique (FECT) under microscopy, which is less specific and sensitive. Accurate detection is important to detect real incidence for protection against and elimination of fasciolosis in the area. This study aimed to determine the distribution of spp. and compare the specificity and sensitivity of FECT under microscopy to that of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in cattle feces.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in Kalasin Province, Thailand. Feces of 46 cattle were investigated for infection with spp. To detect infection, FECT under microscopy and PCR amplification of the gene of spp. were used to identify egg parasites.

RESULTS

Feces of 16 of 46 (34.78%) cattle were positive for spp. using FECT under microscopy, whereas PCR showed that 67.39% (31 of 46) were positive for spp. False-negative results were as high as 32.61% when diagnosed under microscopy.

CONCLUSION

This study confirmed the infection of cattle with spp. in Kalasin Province, indicating that PCR demonstrated higher sensitivity and specificity when diagnosing infection. FECT under microscopy can still be used as a primary and traditional method for diagnosis. However, relapse cases of spp. and spp. should be diagnosed by microscopy combined with PCR. This is the first report on the molecular distribution of fecal samples in cattle in Kalasin Province.