Molecular Detection of Strongyloides ratti in Faecal Samples from Wild Rats in Serdang, Malaysia

Purpose: To detect Strongyloides ratti in faecal samples using conventional methods and to confirm the identification using a sensitive and specific method, namely, polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods: A PCR method targeting the small subunit of the rRNA gene was performed in this study for the detection of DNA from Strongyloides ratti (an animal model of S. stercoralis ) in faecal samples of wild Brown rats, Rattus norvegicus . Results: Strongyloides ratti was detected in 34.2 % of collected rats by different conventional techniques and confirmed by PCR. The essay presented 100 % sensitivity with Strongyloides universal primer. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the application of PCR with universal primer is a very sensitive methodology to detect S. ratti in faecal material of wild rats infected even with very low parasite burden.