DETECTION OF CIRCULATING TRICHINELLA-SPIRALIS LARVAE BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION

Several investigators have successfully applied the polymerase chain r eaction to the amplification of DNA from Trichinella spiralis muscle-s tage larvae. We show herein that specific DNA can be amplified from T. spiralis migratory larvae in the blood of experimentally infected mic e. The polymerase chain reaction detected the presence of migratory la rvae in mouse blood from day 5 to day 14 of infection. The technique m ay be applied to human trichinosis, but its diagnostic value will depe nd on the severity and stage of the infection.