Polymerase chain reaction parasitic

Hamburger, J., He, N., Xin, X.Y., Ramzy, R.M., Jourdane, J. and Ruppel, A. (1998a) A polymerase chain reaction assay for detecting snails infected with bilharzia parasites (Schistosoma mansoni) from very early prepatency. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 59, 872-876. 

Methods for identification of human protozoan parasites in the tissue of molluscan shellfish include (1) immunofluorescent antibodies (IFA) alone or in combination with immunomagnetic separation (IMS), (2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) alone or combined with restricted fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) for genotyping, (3) multiplexed nested PCR, and (4) fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Infectivity of the parasites recovered from the shellfish are usually assessed by mouse bioassays. 

To ensure a positive diagnosis, blood smears should be obtained every 12 to 24 hours for 3 consecutive days. The presence of parasites in the blood 3 to 5 days after initiation of therapy suggests drug resistance. Recent advances for detecting malaria parasite have included DNA or RNA probes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and a rapid dipstick test (PARASIGHT F, Becton-Dickinson, Cock-eysviUe, The dipstick is reported to have a sensitivity of... 

Gasser RB, Monti JR, ZhuX, Chilton NB, HungG-C, Guldberg P (1997). Polymerase chain reaction-linked single-strand conformation polymorphism of ribosomal DNA to fingerprint parasites. Electrophoresis, 18 1564—1566. 

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