Authors

LJ Cunningham¹; A Juhasz¹; S Jones¹; J Archer¹; W Nevin¹; JJ Verweij³; J Cracknell²; J Quayle²; JR Stothard¹;  ¹ Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK;  ² Knowsley Safari, UK;  ³ Elisabeth-Tweesteden Hospital, UK

Discussion

Since 2009, the TaqMan real-time PCR developed by Verweij et al. has been the frontline molecular diagnostic for the detection of Strongyloides stercoralis, yet it is actually a genus-specific assay. Taking advantage of newly designed species-specific primers and probes targeting hyper-variable regions of the ribosomal 18S gene, alongside whole-genome sequencing, we have clearly shown the presence of Strongyloides fuelleborni within various clinical samples. Indeed, the role of zoonotic Strongyloides species has been grossly underestimated, even more so as shortcomings, and failures, in serological detection come to light. Here, we present current refinements in species-specific real-time PCR assays, alongside our exploration of e-DNA typing of soils to identify sites of active transmission of S. fuelleborni within a captive population of baboons in a UK safari park.