2 research outputs found
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of the sexually-transmitted parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis
A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was developed to detect the sexuallytransmitted
parasite, Trichomonas vaginalis in vaginal swabs. The presence of T. vaginalis was detected from 121
female sex workers attending a social hygiene clinic in Balibago, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines using culture,
polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the developed LAMP assay. The high analytical sensitivity of LAMP detected a
higher prevalence of T. vaginalis (42.06%) compared to culture (8.26%) and PCR (7.44%). Additionally, this assay did
not cross-react with DNAs of other trichomonads that can infect humans such as Trichomonas tenax and
Pentatrichomonas hominis as well as the pathogens, Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. The LAMP assay
developed had a limit of detection (0.036 ng/μl) lower than that of PCR using the primers TvK3 and TvK7 (0.36 ng/μl).
Prevalence of T. vaginalis in female sex workers in this area of the Philippines may be higher than previously estimated.
Discordant results of PCR and LAMP may be due to different reactions to different kinds of inhibitors in the vaginal
swabs
Subtype analysis of Blastocystis sp. isolates from asymptomatic individuals in an urban community in the Philippines
Blastocystis sp. is a commonly reported enteric protistan parasite in faecal specimens with a worldwide
distribution afflicting both humans and a wide range of animals. The aim of this study is to characterize the subtypes
(STs) of Blastocystis sp. isolates from asymptomatic individuals in an urban community in Pateros, Metro Manila,
Philippines. The 600-bp small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) barcoding region of Blastocystis sp. isolates was
amplified and sequenced using the primers RD5 and BhRDr. Subtypes were identified by uploading the sequences onto
the Basic Local Alignment and Search Tool (BLAST) websites, the Blastocystis Subtype (18S) and Sequence Typing
(MLST) Database and by construction of a phylogenetic tree. Twenty-nine (29) out of 35 individuals were detected
positive for Blastocystis sp. ST3 is the most common among the three STs detected (65.5%), followed by ST1 (31.0%)
and ST4 (3.44%). This study showed that DNA barcoding can serve as a helpful tool to investigate the diversity of
Blastocystis sp. in the Philippines