Detection of DNA of nocturnally periodic Brugia malayi in night and day blood samples by a polymerase chain reaction-ELISA-based method using an internal control DNA
P. Fischer et al., Detection of DNA of nocturnally periodic Brugia malayi in night and day blood samples by a polymerase chain reaction-ELISA-based method using an internal control DNA, AM J TROP M, 62(2), 2000, pp. 291-296
Citations number
26
Categorie Soggetti
Envirnomentale Medicine & Public Health","Medical Research General Topics
An internal control was used in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-ELISA-bas
ed technique to detect the Hha I repeat of the filarial parasite Brugia mal
ayi. A single microfilaria added to 200 mu l of blood was reliably detected
. The assay was evaluated on field samples from persons living in an area e
ndemic for Anopheles-transmitted, nocturnally periodic B. malayi in central
Sulawesi, Indonesia. Examination of night blood of 138 individuals for the
presence of microfilariae by filtration revealed 44 microfilaria carriers.
All microfilaria carriers were also positive in the PCR-ELISA and, in addi
tion, 14 more samples were proven to contain parasite DNA. The sensitivity
of both methods was compared on night and on day blood samples collected fr
om 113 persons. Whereas 37 microfilaria carriers were identified by filtrat
ion of night blood, no microfilariae were observed in the corresponding day
blood samples. The PCR-ELISA result was positive in all 37 night blood sam
ples of microfilaria carriers and in an additional 13 night blood samples w
ithout microfilariae. Parasite DNA was detected in 31 day blood samples of
microfilaria carriers and in 3 day blood samples of amicrofilaremic persons
. Assuming a sensitivity of the PCR-ELISA on night blood of 100%, the sensi
tivity of night blood filtration is 74% and that of the PCR-ELISA on day bl
ood is 68%. These data suggest that the described PCR-ELISA method is capab
le of detecting infections with nocturnally periodic B. malayi in day blood
samples. Therefore, this method may facilitate both the identification of
endemic areas and the monitoring of control programs.