The use of molecular technology to investigate trypanosome infections in tsetse flies at Liwonde Wild Life Reserve

Malawi Medical Journal : the Journal of Medical Association of Malawi
Symon F NayupeEmmanuel Maganga

Abstract

Trypanosomes are protozoan flagellates that cause human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT). HAT is caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in East and Central Africa and T.b. gambiense in West Africa, whereas AAT is caused by a number of trypanosome species, including T. brucei brucei, T. evansi, T. vivax, T. congolense, T. godfreyi and T. simiae. The aim of this study was to establish if tsetse flies at Liwonde Wild Life Reserve (LWLR) are infected with these trypanosomes and thus pose a risk to both humans and animals within and surrounding the LWLR. A total of 150 tsetse flies were caught. Of these, 82 remained alive after capture and were dissected such that the mid-gut could be examined microscopically for trypanosomes. DNA extractions were performed from both mid-guts and the 68 dead flies using a Qiagen Kit. Amplification techniques involved the Internal Transcriber Spacer 1 (ITS 1) conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with primers designed to identify trypanosome species, and Repetitive Insertion Mobile Element - Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (RIME LAMP), a sequence specific to T. brucei. Analysis showed that 79/82 (96.3%) of the mid-guts examined microscopically wer...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 1, 2020·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Catalina Avendaño, Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo

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BETA
PCR

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