Molecular diagnosis of Bovine Trypanosomosis using LAMP

Over the past years use of microscopy in the determination of bovine trypanosome infections has yielded important information on the epidemiology of the disease. However recent molecular techniques such as Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) have been developed. LAMP technique specifically targets the 18S rRNA gene of Trypanosoma congolense the repetitive insertion mobile element (RIME) gene of the Trypanozoon subgenus group and the human serum resistant associated (SRA) gene of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. LAMP is a highly sensitive and specific technique and yet user friendly. This test may in future prove to be instrumental in the routine accurate detection of trypanosomiasis in field samples in resource-limited countries such as Zambia.