Diagnosis of benzimidazole resistance in Haemonchus contortus using allele-specific PCR technique

Abstract

Molecular tools can be of great use in understanding the origin and nature of underlying mechanisms of benzimidazole resistance. In the present study an allele-specific PCR was standardized to diagnose the mutation (Phe to Try) at residue 200 of the isotype 1 beta tubulin gene responsible for benzimidazole resistance in Haemonchus contortus adult and infective larvae. Once standardized, AS-PCR proved to be a powerful tool to detect point mutations at codon 200 of isotype 1 ß-tubulin gene of H. contortus adult worms and infective larvae. The technique can be effectively used for genotyping of benzimidazole susceptible and resistant alleles of H. contortus from sheep.