Copro-diagnosis of Haplorchis taichui infection using sedimentation and PCR-based methods.

Fifty-one human fecal specimens were collected from villagers inhabiting along Mae Kuang River, Ban Sob Tha, Pa Sang District, Lamphun Province, Thailand. By the formalin-ether sedimentation technique (FEST) under a light microscope, eggs of 3 helminth species, Haplorchis taichui, Ascaris lumbricoides and unidentified hookworm species were detected with prevalences of 22, 14 and 4%, respectively. PCR amplification with H. taichui specific primers showed that H. taichui specific amplicon 260 bp was generated in all FEST-positive specimens, and also in some FEST negative specimens. This H. taichui specific PCR method can be used to detect this parasite in all developmental stages and in both definitive and intermediate hosts, which should be useful in prevention and control programs.