Combined detection of Brugia malayi and Wuchereria bancrofti using single PCR

A single step PCR method has been developed for the combined detection of the human filarial parasites, Brugia malayi and Wuchereria bancrofti. Parasites' DNA were isolated from filaria positive blood samples that were collected from endemic areas. The primers used were Hha1 and Ssp I, which amplified the DNA fragments of 322 bp and 188 bp specific to B. malayi and W. bancrofti, respectively. The sensitivity of the assay was tested with blood and mosquito samples having one W. bancrofti in a pool of 10 B. malayi. The assay was further evaluated on field collected blood and mosquito samples. Use of this assay as a diagnostic tool for the detection of filariasis being the most promising aspect of this study, offers scope for detection of both the parasites even at low levels of infection.