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Abstract
In this study, a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was established
to detect Schistosoma japonicum DNA in faecal and serum samples of rabbits, and serum
samples of humans infected with S. japonicum. This LAMP assay was based on the sequence
of highly repetitive retrotransposon SjR2, and was able to detect 0.08 fg S. japonicum
DNA, which is 10(4) times more sensitive than conventional PCR. The LAMP assay was
also highly specific for S. japonicum and able to detect S. japonicum DNA in rabbit
sera at 1 week p.i. Following administration of praziquantel, detection of S. japonicum
DNA in rabbit sera became negative at 12 weeks post-treatment. These results demonstrated
that LAMP was effective for early diagnosis of, and evaluation of therapy effectiveness
for, S. japonicum infection. Both PCR and LAMP assays were then used to detect S.
japonicum DNA in 30 serum samples from S. japonicum-infected patients and 20 serum
samples from healthy persons. The percentage sensitivity of LAMP was 96.7%, whereas
that of PCR was only 60%, indicating that LAMP was more sensitive than conventional
PCR for clinical diagnosis of schistosomiasis cases in endemic areas. The established
LAMP assay should provide a useful and practical tool for the routine diagnosis and
therapeutic evaluation of human schistosomiasis.
2009 Australian Society for Parasitology Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights
reserved.