aDepartment of Veterinary Parasitology, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-500 030, India.
bDivision of Parasitology, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar-243 122, India.
*Corresponding author: Tel.: +919392309212; Fax: +91-40-24015143; E-mail: udaiku@yahoo.co.in
A 35 copy PCR assay was tested for its efficacy and in amplifying the DNA of theoretically lowest number of tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii, R.H. strain in Swiss albino mice. Two μl (20 ng) of tachyzoite DNA with F 5′-GGAACTGCATCCGTTCATGAG3' (BG1) and R 5′-TCTTTAAAGCGTTCGTGGTC3' (BG100) primers yielded an 194 bp product on agarose gel. The PCR assay was found sensitive in detecting as low as 1.21 pg of DNA of T. gondii, R.H. strain. Hence, the assay may be used for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in clinical samples.
Toxoplasma gondii, analytical sensitivity, B1 gene, PCR
