Genus-specific PCR for the differentiation of eggs or larvae from gastrointestinal nematodes of ruminants

Using sequences of the ribosomal second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2), PCR primers were designed for the differentiation of the gastrointestinal nematode genera Ostertagia, Cooperia, Nematodirus, Haemonchus and Trichostr ongylus. Single eggs or larvae from faeces could be differentiated without previous DNA extraction. Quantification of the PCR result proved to be diff icult because the DNA content between eggs from fresh or 24-h-old faeces va ried considerably.