Creation and use of a LAMP kit to rapidly detect snails infected with Schistosoma japonicum

Objective To construct a LAMP kit to rapidly detect snails infected withSchistosoma japonicum.This kit will be used to survey the distribution of infected snails in areas with endemic schistosomiasis.Methods Alkaline lysis was used to prepare genomic DNA from snails,thus reducing the time for sample DNA preparation.LAMP reagents were optimized,and coloration was used to judge LAMP results.The steps in the LAMP test were reduced to avoid contamination and false positives were decreased.A batch method of detection was developed to allow mass screening of infected snails in the field and investigation of the distribution of snails infected withS.japonicumin areas with snails.A LAMP kit was constructed to rapidly detect snails infected withS.japonicumby optimizing the reagents and techniques as mentioned.Results The LAMP kit to rapidly detect snails infected withS.japonicumwas able to rapidly test for infected snails collected from areas with endemic schistosomiasis.The testing time was reduced from 6 to 2 hours and testing was effectively simplified.The sensitivity of this LAMP kit is similar to regular LAMP.The LAMP kit identified infected snails one week after infection and sampled large numbers of snails in the field.Conclusion This study has successfully constructed a rapid,specific,and simple kit to detect snails infected with schistosomes.