DNA differential diagnosis of human taeniid cestodes by base excision sequence scanning thymine-base reader analysis with mitochondrial genes.

For DNA differential diagnosis of human Taenia cestodes, a base excision sequence scanning thymine-base method using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and cytochrome b genes as targets was used. The characteristic thymine-base peak profiles provide four distinct types, unique for T. saginata, T. asiatica, and two genotypes of T. solium. This approach provides a useful tool for the identification and diagnosis of human taeniid cestodes without DNA sequencing if nucleotide sequence databases are available.