Caught in a trap: DNA contamination in tsetse xenomonitoring can lead to over-estimates of Trypanosoma brucei infection
Our results show that infected tsetse can contaminate naïve flies with T. brucei DNA when co-caged, and that the level of contamination can be extensive. Whilst simple PCR may overestimate infection prevalence, quantitative PCR offers a means of eliminating false positives.
Authors
- Rachel Sarah Lea (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0511-5459)
- Furaha Mramba
- Lee R. Haines (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8821-6479)
- Martha Betson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4220-3290)
- Oliver Manangwa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4738-4860)
- Liam J. Morrison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8304-9066)
- Jennifer Lord (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6616-1526)
- Isabel Saldanha (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4141-8625)
- Gala Garrod (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7140-1077)
- Stephen J. Torr (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9550-4030)
- Lucas J. Cunningham (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3017-4074)
- Álvaro Acosta-Serrano (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2576-7959)
- Harriet Auty (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6181-3780)
Institutions
- University of Notre Dame (US)
- Roslin Institute (GB)
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (GB)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- Vector & Vector-Borne Diseases Research Institute (TZ)
- University of Glasgow (GB)
- University of Edinburgh (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLoS neglected tropical diseases
- Published
- 2024-08-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0012095
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Trypanosoma species research and implications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.16
Funders
- Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Directorate for Biological Sciences
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council