Preliminary results of the recombinase polymerase amplification technique for the detection of Haemonchus contortus from Hungarian field samples.

Haemonchus contortus is a parasitic nematode of small ruminants responsible for significant economic losses and animal health concerns globally. Detection of gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in veterinary practice typically relies on microscopy-based methods such as the faecal egg count and morphological identification of larval culture. However, mixed co-infections are common and species-specific identification is typically time-consuming and expertise-intensive. Compounded by increasing anthelmintic resistance, there is an urgent need to implement the molecular diagnosis of GIN in the livestock industry, preferably in field settings. Advances in isothermal amplification techniques including recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) assays could improve this. Yet, constraints in RPA kit availability and amplicon detection systems limit the use of this technology in point of care settings. In this study, we present an early-stage, proof-of-concept demonstration of RPA targeting the internal transcribed spacer (ITS2) region of H. contortus. Having tested against eight closely related nematodes and also against five farm isolates in Eastern Hungary, preliminary results derived from a comparative analysis of 3 primer sets showed the assay detects H. contortus DNA and has a limit of detection of 10-5 ng/µl. We also tested an end-result naked eye detection system using various DNA binding dyes, of which EvaGreen® dye was successful for a qualitative RPA detection that could be adaptable at farm sites.

Point of care colourimetric and lateral flow LAMP assay for the detection of Haemonchus contortus in ruminant faecal samples.

In this study, we present an optimised colourimetric and a lateral flow LAMP assay for the detection of Haemonchus contortus in small ruminant faecal samples. Using a previously published LAMP primer set, we made use of commercially available colourimetric LAMP and lateral flow kits and combined this into an optimised diagnostic assay which was then tested on field faecal samples from Eastern and South-Eastern Hungary as well as a pure H. contortus egg faecal sample from Kosice, Slovakia. Both assays showed no conflicts in visual detection of the results. Additionally, we modified and tested several centrifuge-free DNA extraction methods and one bead-beating egg lysis DNA extraction method to develop a true point of care protocol, as the source of the starting DNA is the main rate-limiting step in farm-level molecular diagnosis. Out of the various methods trialed, promising results were obtained with the magnetic bead extraction method. Sample solutions from the Fill-FLOTAC® technique were also utilised, which demonstrated that it could be efficiently adapted for field-level egg concentration to extract DNA. This proof of concept study showed that isothermal amplification technologies with a colourimetric detection or when combined with a lateral flow assay could be an important step for a true point of care molecular diagnostic assay for H. contortus.

TITLE: Dosage LAMP colorimétrique et à flux latéral pour la détection au point d'intervention d'Haemonchus contortus dans les échantillons de selles de ruminants. ABSTRACT: Dans cette étude, nous présentons un test colorimétrique optimisé et un test LAMP à flux latéral pour la détection d'Haemonchus contortus dans des échantillons de selles de petits ruminants. À l'aide d'un ensemble d'amorces LAMP publié précédemment, nous avons utilisé des kits colorimétriques LAMP à flux latéral disponibles dans le commerce et les avons combinés dans un test de diagnostic optimisé qui a ensuite été testé sur des échantillons de matières fécales de terrain provenant de l'est et du sud-est de la Hongrie ainsi que d'un échantillon d'œufs de H. contortus provenant de selles de Kosice, Slovaquie. Les deux tests n'ont montré aucun conflit dans la détection visuelle des résultats. De plus, nous avons modifié et testé plusieurs méthodes d'extraction d'ADN sans centrifugation et une méthode d'extraction de l'ADN des œufs par lyse par billes pour développer un véritable protocole de point d'intervention, car la source d'ADN de départ est la principale étape limitante du diagnostic moléculaire au niveau de la ferme. Parmi les différentes méthodes testées, des résultats prometteurs ont été obtenus avec la méthode d'extraction par billes magnétiques. Des solutions d'échantillons de la technique Fill-FLOTAC® ont également été utilisées, ce qui a démontré qu'elle pouvait être efficacement adaptée à la concentration d'œufs sur le terrain pour extraire l'ADN. Cette étude de preuve de concept a montré que les technologies d'amplification isotherme avec une détection colorimétrique ou lorsqu'elles sont combinées avec un test de flux latéral pourraient être une étape importante pour un véritable test de diagnostic moléculaire au point d'intervention pour H. contortus.

Effect of synergists on ivermectin resistance in field populations of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus from Punjab districts, India.

The status of ivermectin resistance in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus collected from various districts of the Punjab state, India was determined using larval immersion test (LIT). Regression graphs of probit mortality of larval ticks of various field isolates were plotted against log values of increasing concentrations of technical grade ivermectin for determination of slopes of mortality, lethal concentrations for 50% (LC50) and resistance factors (RF). Values for the coefficient of determination (R2) in LIT assay ranged from 0.82 to 0.98 indicating the model to be a good fit. The RF values against ivermectin ranged from 1.65 to 9.07 revealing resistance status in all the field isolates. Pre-exposure to a single pre-determined sub-lethal concentration of ATP-binding cassette transporter inhibitors (cyclosporin-A, MK571) and p-glycoprotein inhibitor (verapamil) lead to reduction in LC50 values of ivermectin in different field tick isolates. Among the various field isolates, the highest synergistic factor for MK571 and verapamil was recorded in the Moga isolate as 4.97 and 3.21, respectively whereas for cyclosporin-A, the highest value was recorded in the Mansa isolate as 2.81. Among the three synergists used in the current study, MK571 caused the highest increase in toxicity against ivermectin in the field ticks. Therefore, combination products of ivermectin with the above synergists could prolong the useful life of this drug for effective control of ticks.