Xq. Zhu et al., Molecular approaches for studying ascaridoid nematodes with zoonotic potential, with an emphasis on Toxocara species, J HELMINTH, 75(2), 2001, pp. 101-108
Species-specific identification of ascaridoid nematodes at any developmenta
l stage is a prerequisite for detailed investigation of the life cycles, sy
stematics and epidemiology of this important group, and is also crucial for
the diagnosis of associated infections. The morphological identification o
f some species and/ or their larval stages can, however, present considerab
le difficulty. Recently, PCR-based methods, using genetic markers in the in
ternal transcribed spacers (ITS) of ribosomal DNA, have been shown to provi
de reliable alternatives to more traditional methods for the specific ident
ification of nematodes. This article provides an account of recent research
on the development of PCR-based methods (utilizing ITS sequences) for the
specific identification of ascaridoid nematodes of zoonotic potential, for
the diagnosis of infections, and for the analysis of genetic variation with
in and among individual nematodes and their populations. Prospects for usin
g these diagnostic and analytical tools to investigate epidemiological and
population genetic questions relating to ascaridoid parasites are also disc
ussed.