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Nested cytochrome B polymerase chain reaction diagnostics underestimate mixed infections of avian blood haemosporidian parasites: Microscopy is still essential

Valkiunas, G ; Bensch, Staffan LU ; Iezhova, TA ; Krizanauskiene, A ; Hellgren, Olof LU and Bolshakov, CV (2006) In The Journal of Parasitology 92(2). p.418-422
Abstract
Numerous polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods have been developed and used increasingly to screen vertebrate blood samples for the diagnosis of haemosporidian blood parasites (Sporozoa, Haemosporida), but a rigorous evaluation of the sensitivity of these methods for detecting mixed infections of different haemosporidian species belonging to the same and different genera and subgenera is lacking. This study links the information obtained by nested cytochrome b PCR and traditional microscopy in determining mixed haemosporidian infections in naturally infected birds. Samples from 83 individual passerine birds with single infections of Haemoproteus or Plasmodium spp., as determined by mitochondrial DNA amplification, also were... (More)
Numerous polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods have been developed and used increasingly to screen vertebrate blood samples for the diagnosis of haemosporidian blood parasites (Sporozoa, Haemosporida), but a rigorous evaluation of the sensitivity of these methods for detecting mixed infections of different haemosporidian species belonging to the same and different genera and subgenera is lacking. This study links the information obtained by nested cytochrome b PCR and traditional microscopy in determining mixed haemosporidian infections in naturally infected birds. Samples from 83 individual passerine birds with single infections of Haemoproteus or Plasmodium spp., as determined by mitochondrial DNA amplification, also were investigated by microscopic examination of stained blood films. Thirty-six samples (43%) were found to harbor mixed Haemoproteus, or Plasmodium spp. infections, or both. Thus, the PCR assays alone underestimate the Occurrence of mixed infections of haemosporidian parasites in naturally infected birds. To determine the true species composition of the haemosporidians in each individual host, PCR diagnostics need to be improved. Specific primers for Haemoproteus spp. and Plasmodium spp. should be developed. Ideally, a combination of the approaches of both microscopy and PCR-based methods is recommended for this purpose. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
The Journal of Parasitology
volume
92
issue
2
pages
418 - 422
publisher
American Society of Parasitologists
external identifiers
  • pmid:16729711
  • wos:000237329400038
  • scopus:33646478777
ISSN
0022-3395
project
Malaria in birds
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6fdd815f-458a-4d78-aacb-ea74ef106be7 (old id 159553)
alternative location
http://www.bioone.org/archive/0022-3395/92/2/pdf/i0022-3395-92-2-418.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 17:07:27
date last changed
2022-04-23 02:53:23
@article{6fdd815f-458a-4d78-aacb-ea74ef106be7,
  abstract     = {{Numerous polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods have been developed and used increasingly to screen vertebrate blood samples for the diagnosis of haemosporidian blood parasites (Sporozoa, Haemosporida), but a rigorous evaluation of the sensitivity of these methods for detecting mixed infections of different haemosporidian species belonging to the same and different genera and subgenera is lacking. This study links the information obtained by nested cytochrome b PCR and traditional microscopy in determining mixed haemosporidian infections in naturally infected birds. Samples from 83 individual passerine birds with single infections of Haemoproteus or Plasmodium spp., as determined by mitochondrial DNA amplification, also were investigated by microscopic examination of stained blood films. Thirty-six samples (43%) were found to harbor mixed Haemoproteus, or Plasmodium spp. infections, or both. Thus, the PCR assays alone underestimate the Occurrence of mixed infections of haemosporidian parasites in naturally infected birds. To determine the true species composition of the haemosporidians in each individual host, PCR diagnostics need to be improved. Specific primers for Haemoproteus spp. and Plasmodium spp. should be developed. Ideally, a combination of the approaches of both microscopy and PCR-based methods is recommended for this purpose.}},
  author       = {{Valkiunas, G and Bensch, Staffan and Iezhova, TA and Krizanauskiene, A and Hellgren, Olof and Bolshakov, CV}},
  issn         = {{0022-3395}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{418--422}},
  publisher    = {{American Society of Parasitologists}},
  series       = {{The Journal of Parasitology}},
  title        = {{Nested cytochrome B polymerase chain reaction diagnostics underestimate mixed infections of avian blood haemosporidian parasites: Microscopy is still essential}},
  url          = {{http://www.bioone.org/archive/0022-3395/92/2/pdf/i0022-3395-92-2-418.pdf}},
  volume       = {{92}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}