Strategies for the Diagnosis of Ceratomyxa shasta Using the Polymerase Chain Reaction: Comparison of Lethal and Nonlethal Sampling with Microscopic Examination

Abstract A single-round and a nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay were compared with microscopic examination for their ability to detect infections caused by the myxozoan parasite Ceratomyxa shasta. Tissues for the comparison were periodically sampled from susceptible rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss naturally exposed to the parasite. Spores of the parasite were first detected in the intestine by microscopic examination at 41 d postexposure. Parasite DNA was detected in the intestine at 20 d postexposure by single-round PCR and at 7 d using the nested PCR assay. Using a nonlethal sampling method, parasite DNA was detected from intestinal swabs at 27 d postexposure by single-round PCR and at 13 d using the nested reaction. Although PCR diagnosis using the nonlethal sampling method was less effective in detecting C. shasta than diagnosis using lethally collected tissue, it was a more reliable assay than microscopic examination.

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