Australia: Multiplex qPCR for liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) and intermediate snail host (Austropeplea tomentosa)

Development of a multiplex quantitative PCR assay for detection and quantification of DNA from Fasciola hepatica and the intermediate snail host, Austropeplea tomentosa, in water samples

Vignesh Rathinasamy, Chris Hosking, Lily Tran, Jane Kelley, Genevieve Williamson, Jaclyn Swan, Timothy Elliottd, Grant Rawlin, Travis Beddoe, Terry W. Spithill | Department of Animal, Plant and Soil Sciences, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia; Centre for AgriBioscience, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic., Australia; Department of Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, Bundoora, Vic., Australia; Invetus, Armidale Research Centre, Armidale, New South Wales, Australia | 2018 | Veterinary Parasitology | 259, 17-24

Liver fluke is a significant threat to livestock production and can cause major production loss. A multiplex qPCR targeting ITS-2 rDNA gene was developed and evaluated using newly designed primer and probes. The high copy number of ITS-2 sequence resulted in a higher sensitivity than traditional methods. This qPCR assay using MIC is a highly robust, specific and sensitive way to quantitate the level of infection in the snail species and estimate the risk of infection in livestock.