GENOMIC FINGERPRINTING OF ONCHOCERCA SPECIES USING RANDOM AMPLIFIED POLYMORPHIC DNA

A method based on amplification of genomic DNA by decamer primers of random nucleotide sequence was used to obtain DNA fingerprints from different species of the genus Onchocerca. Each of the 20 primers tested allowed a clear distinction between the different species of the genus on an agarose gel. The technique offers the potential to construct species or strain specific probes and oligonucleotides PCR primers from the species specific fragments. A combination of these primers or others could be useful as population markers.