Lack of specificity of the molecular diagnostic method for identification of Aphanomyces astaci

Abstract

A recent PCR-test developed for identification of Aphanomyces astaci, the organism responsible for crayfish plague, provided false positives for Aphanomyces frigidophilus, Aphanomyces repetans, and some Saprolegnia spp. Real-time PCR showed that with the designed primers, A. astaci and A. frigidophilus cannot be distinguished. The results of this study show that this particular crayfish plague PCR-test ought to be improved and that molecular-based techniques need to be contrasted to histological evidences and disease history.