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  • Title: An eDNA-qPCR assay to detect the presence of the parasite Schistocephalus solidus inside its threespine stickleback host.
    Author: Berger CS, Aubin-Horth N.
    Journal: J Exp Biol; 2018 May 10; 221(Pt 9):. PubMed ID: 29615530.
    Abstract:
    Detecting the presence of a parasite within its host is crucial to the study of host-parasite interactions. The Schistocephalus solidus-threespine stickleback pair has been studied extensively to investigate host phenotypic alterations associated with a parasite with a complex life cycle. This cestode is localized inside the stickleback's abdominal cavity and can be visually detected only once it passes a mass threshold. We present a non-lethal quantitative PCR (qPCR) approach based on detection of environmental DNA from the worm (eDNA), sampled in the fish abdominal cavity. Using this approach on two fish populations (n=151), 98% of fish were correctly assigned to their S. solidus infection status. There was a significant correlation between eDNA concentration and total parasitic mass. We also assessed ventilation rate as a complementary mean to detect infection. Our eDNA detection method gives a reliable presence/absence response and its future use for quantitative assessment of infection is promising.
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