Molecular typing of the fresh water snail Lymnaea arabica, the possible intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica, collected from Saudi Arabia, by RAPD-PCR

Abstract

Fasciolosis is caused by Fasciola hepatica with Lymnaea spp. as intermediate hosts. Lymnaea arabica, as a possible snail host collected from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was investigated by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) technique. Polymorphic bands from L. arabica were sought for fingerprinting (typing) and identification of this species. The resultant electrophoretic patterns would be used as molecular bio-markers for thesemolluscas. This will help in the identification of the snails at a molecular level for the first time in the country that, in turn, will help in disease control. This technique was proved to be an accurate, appropriate, efficient and valuable alternative to traditional identification tools of Lymnea spp.