Detection and differentiation of demodex mites

摘要

Methods of detecting D. gatoi or D. cati, are disclosed. A sample suspected of containing a nucleic acid of D. gatoi or D. cati is screened for the presence or absence of that nucleic acid. The presence of the D. gatoi or D. cati nucleic acid indicates the presence of D. gatoi or D. cati. Determining whether the D. gatoi or D. cati nucleic acid is present in the sample can be accomplished by detecting hybridization between a D. gatoi or D. cati probe. Probes and primers for the detection of D. gatoi or D. cati are also disclosed. Disclosed are isolated nucleic acids that encode a D. gatoi or D. cati rRNA gene sequence. Kits and arrays that contain the disclosed probes and/or primers also are disclosed.