Project: Determination of the Sensitivity of a PCR Assay for Myxobolus cerebralis

Primary Investigator: Thomas Baldwin
Project Summary: Large numbers of M. cerebralis myxospores, and occasional myxospores from non-salmonid fish (not M. cerebralis), were obtained and stored -80 degrees C. The purpose was to determine the sensitivity and specifically of a PCR assay modified from that described by Andree and Hedrick, utilizing these myxospores as a known study set. The PCR assay has been optimized for use with M. cerebralis myxospores obtained by pepsin-trypsin digest, and the minimum concentration of myxospores detectable, but inconsistently. Detection was 100% using 2,500 spores/reaction tube. In an effort to unify results and decrease myxospores, filtration in combination with additional enzymatic digestion and density separation are being utilized to remove contaminant DNA. When relatively pure myxospores samples are obtained, large numbers of known M. cerebralis and non-M. cerebralis myxospores will be tested by the PCR assay, and the sensitivity and specificity of the assay determined.
Funding Period: 1998-1999
Final Report: Baldwin_98-99.pdf
Dataset(s) associated with this project:

There are no datasets associated with this project.