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Updated: May 5, 2026
Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification LAMP Assays for the Species-specific Detection of Eimeria that Infect Chickens
Published on: February 20, 2015
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for detection of Histomonas meleagridis infection in chickens targeting
Jinjun Xu1, Chanbao Qu, Jianping Tao
1a Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses , Yangzhou , PR China.
Abstract:
Histomonas meleagridis is the causative agent of histomonosis, a disease of gallinaceous fowl characterized by necrotic typhlitis, hepatitis, and high mortality. To develop a rapid and sensitive method for specific detection of H. meleagridis, an assay based on loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) targeting the 18S rRNA gene was established. The detection limit of the LAMP assay was 10 copies for standard plasmids containing an 18S rRNA gene fragment, which was superior to that of a classical PCR method. Specificity tests revealed that there was no cross-reaction with other protozoa such as Trichomonas gallinae, Blastocytis sp, Tetratrichomonas gallinarum, Plasmodium gallinaceum, Toxoplasma gondii, Eimeria tenella, Leucocytozoon caulleryi and Leucocytozoon sabrazesi. The assay was evaluated for its diagnostic utility using liver and caeca samples collected from suspected field cases, the detection rate was 100 and 97.92%, respectively. These results indicate that the LAMP assay may be a useful tool for rapid detection and identification of H. meleagridis in poultry.
Insights
A new loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay accurately detects Histomonas meleagridis, the cause of histomonosis in poultry. This sensitive method offers rapid and specific identification of the pathogen in field samples.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Parasitology
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Poultry Diseases
Background:
- Histomonas meleagridis causes histomonosis, a severe poultry disease with high mortality.
- Current diagnostic methods for H. meleagridis may lack the required speed and sensitivity.
- Accurate detection is crucial for controlling disease spread in gallinaceous fowl.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid, sensitive, and specific molecular assay for Histomonas meleagridis detection.
- To evaluate the diagnostic performance of the developed assay in clinical samples.
Main Methods:
- A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay was designed targeting the 18S rRNA gene of H. meleagridis.
- The assay's detection limit was determined using standard plasmids and compared to conventional PCR.
- Specificity was assessed against a panel of related protozoan species.
- Diagnostic utility was evaluated using liver and caeca samples from suspected field cases.
Main Results:
- The LAMP assay demonstrated a superior detection limit of 10 copies compared to PCR.
- High specificity was confirmed, with no cross-reactivity observed with other tested protozoa.
- The assay achieved a 100% detection rate in liver samples and 97.92% in caeca samples from suspected field cases.
Conclusions:
- The developed LAMP assay is a highly sensitive and specific tool for rapid detection of H. meleagridis.
- This assay shows significant potential for the timely diagnosis of histomonosis in poultry.
- The LAMP assay can aid in the effective management and control of histomonosis outbreaks.
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