Application of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of the random insertion mobile element (RIME - LAMP) to diagnose camel <i>Trypanosomiasis</i> in Sudan

Abstract

Control of Trypanosomiasis is dependent on accurate diagnosis and treatment of infected patients or animals. Highly sensitive tests are available for serological screening but the sensitivity of parasitological confirmatory tests remains insufficient and needs to be improved. Ongoing research is opening perspectives for a new generation of field diagnostics. This study aimed to apply and investigate new diagnostic technique loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) of the random insertion mobile element (RIME - LAMP) to diagnose camel Trypanosomiasis in Sudan. Extracted DNA from camels was used to detect Trypanosoma evansi infection in camels using RIME-LAMP technique. A total of 368 DNA samples positive reactor with card agglutination test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT T. evansi) was tested using RIME-LAMP. A total of 208 samples reacted positive (56.52%) using RIME – LAMP whereas only 17 samples were positive (6.34%) using parasitological methods. RIME-LAMP helps increase the probability of detecting the positive cases of camel Trypanosomiasis and it was found to be one useful and alternative molecular diagnostic tool for the detection of T. evansi infections.

Key words: Sudan, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) - random insertion mobile element (RIME - LAMP), camel, Trypanosoma evansi.