An immunocytochemical method was used for localization of various peptide-like substances in the Ascaris nervous system. Out of 45 antipeptide antisera, 12 demonstrated immunoreactivity in different subsets of neurons; these 12 antisera were raised against luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), Aplysia peptide L11 (L11), Aplysia peptide 12B (12B), small cardioactive peptide B (SCPB), neuropeptide Y (NPY), FMRFamide, gastrin-17, cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha MSH), calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Several peptide-like substances were colocalized to the same neuron. Our results suggest that Ascaris, like other organisms, contains multiple peptidergic systems.

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Aims:  The current study was aimed to develop a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) combined with amplicon detection by chromatographic lateral flow dipstick (LFD) assay for rapid and specific detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Methods and Results:  Biotinylated LAMP amplicons were produced by a set of four designed primers that recognized specifically the V. parahaemolyticus thermolabile haemolysin (tlh) gene followed by hybridization with an FITC‐labelled probe and LFD detection. The optimized time and temperature conditions for the LAMP assay were 90 min at 65°C. The LAMP–LFD method accurately identified 28 isolates of V. parahaemolyticus but did not detect 24 non‐parahaemolyticus Vibrio isolates and 35 non‐Vibrio bacterial isolates. The sensitivity of LAMP–LFD for V. parahaemolyticus detection in pure cultures was 120 CFU ml−1. In the case of spiked shrimp samples without enrichment, the detection limit for V. parahaemolyticus was 1·8 × 103 CFU g−1 or equivalent to 3 CFU per reaction while that of conventional PCR was 30 CFU per reaction. Conclusions:  The established LAMP–LFD assay targeting tlh gene was specific, rapid and sensitive for identification of V. parahaemolyticus. Significance and Impact of the Study:  The developed LAMP–LFD assay provided a valuable tool for detection of V. parahaemolyticus and can be used effectively for identification of V. parahaemolyticus in contaminated food sample.

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