RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Keeratijarut, Angsana A1 Lohnoo, Tassanee A1 Yingyong, Wanta A1 Rujirawat, Thidarat A1 Srichunrusami, Chutatip A1 Onpeaw, Pornpit A1 Chongtrakool, Piriyaporn A1 Brandhorst, T. Tristan A1 Krajaejun, TheerapongYR 2015 T1 Detection of the oomycete Pythium insidiosum by real-time PCR targeting the gene coding for exo-1,3-β-glucanase JF Journal of Medical Microbiology, VO 64 IS 9 SP 971 OP 977 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/jmm.0.000117 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1473-5644, AB Pythiosis is a life-threatening infectious disease caused by Pythium insidiosum. Early and accurate diagnosis is the key to prompt treatment and an improved prognosis for patients with pythiosis. An alternative to microbiological and immunological approaches for facilitating diagnosis of pythiosis is the PCR-based assay. Until recently, the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) region was the only target available for PCR-based detection of P. insidiosum. Failure to detect P. insidiosum by PCR amplification using the rDNA-specific primers has been reported. PinsEXO1, encoding an exo-1,3-β-glucanase, is an alternative, novel and efficient target for identification of P. insidiosum by conventional PCR. In this study, we aimed to develop a real-time (RT)-PCR approach targeting PinsEXO1 and compare its performance with conventional PCR for the detection of P. insidiosum. Both conventional and RT-PCR assays were positive for all 35 P. insidiosum strains tested, whilst all 58 control fungi were negative. The turnaround time for conventional PCR was 10 h, whilst that for RT-PCR was 7.5 h. The lowest amounts of genomic DNA template required for successful amplification by conventional and RT-PCR were 1 and 1 × 10− 4 ng, respectively. In conclusion, the RT-PCR assay retained 100 % sensitivity and 100 % specificity for detection of P. insidiosum. It showed a substantially improved analytical sensitivity and turnaround time that could improve diagnosis of pythiosis. The assay could also facilitate quantitative DNA analysis and epidemiological studies of P. insidiosum., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmm/10.1099/jmm.0.000117