Comparison of the earliest day when faecal samples of <i>E. granulosus</i>-experimentally infected dogs tested positive with LAMP, PCR, Copro-ELISA and microscopy.

<p>Note: a, LAMP versus PCR; b, LAMP versus Copro-ELISA; c, PCR versus Copro-ELISA; d, LAMP, PCR or Copro-ELISA versus microscopy.</p

Number of field collected dog faecal samples shown to be positive or negative by the LAMP assay, PCR, ELISA and microscopy.

<p>* The LAMP assay revealed a significantly higher level of sensitivity than ELISA, the PCR assay or microscopy (P<0.001; Pearson chi-square test).</p

Establishment of the LAMP assay.

<p>A. Different reaction temperature. Lanes: M, DNA marker; 1 to 6, 60 to 65°C; 7, water control. B. Different reaction time. Lanes: M, DNA marker; 1 to 6, 10 to 60 min; 7, water control. C. Amplification of LAMP from positive f-DNA and restriction digestion of LAMP product. Lanes: M, DNA marker; 1, LAMP products from positive f-DNA; 2, water control; 3, <i>Eco</i>R1 digestion of LAMP products. D. Specificity of LAMP assay for <i>E. granulosus</i> (G1 genotype). Lanes: M, DNA marker; 1 and 2, g-DNA and f-DNA of <i>E. granulosus</i> (G1 genotype); 3 to 9, g-DNA of <i>E. multilocularis</i>, <i>E. shiquicus</i>, <i>T. hydatigena</i>, <i>T. multiceps</i>, <i>T. pisiformis</i>, <i>T. taeniaeformis</i>, <i>Dipylidium</i> sp.; 10, intestinal tissues of dogs; 11, n-f-DNA; 12, water control. E. Sensitivity of LAMP assay for DNA from different numbers of <i>E. granulosus</i> eggs per gram of faeces. Lanes: 1, negative control; 2 to 6, one to five eggs; 7, ten eggs; 8, fifteen eggs; M, DL2000.</p