Specific detection and identification of African trypanosomes in bovine peripheral blood by means of a PCR-ELISA assay.

The aim of the present study was to develop a PCR-ELISA assay for the detection and differentiation of the main African pathogen trypanosomal species present in peripheral blood of cattle. The proposed methodology allows to specifically differentiate Trypanosoma congolense, Trypanosoma vivax and the subgenus Trypanozoon, by means of a sensitive universal PCR amplifying trypanosome DNA followed by an ELISA-based hybridization with three highly specific probes. The semi-nested PCR had a sensitivity of 15 fg, 15 fg, and 0.