Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymerase chain reaction assay for identification of Schistosoma mansoni strains sensitive or tolerant to anti-schistosomal drugs

The genetic differences between Schistosoma mansoni strains from different geographic areas that were reportedly resistant or sensitive to anti-schist osomal drugs were studied with randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) an d simple sequence repeat (SSR) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Of t he 20 RAPD primers we chose, 19 showed the capacity to produce a medium to high level of amplification and 6 revealed difference PCR bands between dru g-resistant and drug-sensitive strains. One particular primer, 5'-CAGCGACAA G-3', showed 2 major difference bands between praziquantel (PZQ)-resistant and PZQ-sensitive strains from the endemic area of Egypt. These results dem onstrate that defined sequence primers could be applied as a useful tool fo r differentiating drug-resistant and -sensitive schistosome parasites in th e field.