Direct Detection and Identification of African Trypanosomes by Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization with Peptide Nucleic Acid Probes

Abstract

We have developed a rapid and easy to perform fluorescence in situ hybridization test that allows specific identification of trypanosomes from the subgenus Trypanozoon , using peptide nucleic acid probes. Probes were designed to target subgenus-specific sequences on the multiple-copy 18S rRNA, greatly facilitating the detection of a single trypanosome.