PCR primer evaluation for the detection of trypanosome DNA in naturally infected goats

The buffy coat of 76 roaming goats from the Bansang and Missira regions in Gambia, was examined for the presence of trypanosomes. From these animals, extractions from dry blood samples on filter paper were subjected to PCR us ing three different primer sets, ORPHON5J, GOL and TVW, specific for Trypan osoma brucei/Trypanosoma evansi, Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma viv ax, respectively. PCR results for T. congolense were 100% concordant with b uffy coat examination. Besides the three T. vivax buffy coat-positive sampl es, another 15 yielded positive with the TVW primers. The ORPHON5J primers yielded no positive results. Analyses with the GOL primers of putatively ne gative samples, yielded aberrant band patterns whose diagnostic significanc e still remains to be determined. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.