Simple, Filter‐based PCR Detection of Thelohania solenopsae (Microspora) in Fire Ants (Solenopsis invicta)

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Abstract
Thelohania solenopsae is a microsporidian parasite that may serve as a biological control agent for the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. A rapid, filter‐based PCR amplification method detecting a portion of the small‐subunit ribosomal RNA gene was developed to facilitate field studies detecting the parasite in fire ants. Processing ant homogenates with a commercially available membrane‐based system, FTA Classic Card technology, compared favorably with traditional DNA extraction and PCR amplification methods. As few as 100 spores were detected. The FTA membrane system is a simple, extraction‐free method for detecting T. solenopsae in fire ants, and allows for easy archival storage of DNA samples.