RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA FOR THE SPECIFIC DETECTION OF BUBALINE ECHINOCOCCUS-GRANULOSUS BY HYBRIDIZATION ASSAY

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to randomly amplify polymor phic DNA (RAPD) was used to differentiate the bubaline and bovine stra ins of Echinococcus granulosus and buffalo host DNA. Four random oligo nucleotide primers of 10-11 mer were analyzed for their ability to dir ect the amplification of polymorphic DNA fragments from parasites and bovine DNA. Significant DNA polymorphism was observed between the E. g ranulosus isolates. A selectively amplified DNA fragment 0.9 kilobase (kb) from E. granulosus buffalo isolate by primer AP2 (5'-TGCCGAGCTG-3 ') was reamplified and used as a DIG-labelled DNA probe. Dot-blot hybr idization of total genomic DNA differentiated buffalo E. granulosus is olate from bovine isolate and bubaline host DNA with no detectable cro ss-hybridization signal. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.