GENOMIC FINGERPRINTING OF ONCHOCERCA SPECIES USING RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA

A method based on amplification of genomic DNA by decamer primers of r andom nucleotide sequence was used to obtain DNA fingerprints from dif ferent species of the genus Onchocerca. Each of the 20 primers tested allowed a clear distinction between the different species of the genus on an agarose gel. The technique offers the potential to construct sp ecies or strain specific probes and oligonucleotides PCR primers from the species specific fragments. A combination of these primers or othe rs could be useful as population markers.