Fig. 2.

Blastocystis sp. PCR detection assay. Detection of Blastocystis sp was performed by PCR on total DNA extracted from chimpanzee stools with specific Blastocystis primers. Chimp-21–30 correspond to PCR profiles obtained with DNA extracted from stool samples preserved in RNAlater^® Chimp-21*–30* correspond to PCR profiles obtained with DNA extracted from samples obtained from the same animals as Chimp-21–30 but preserved in formalin. The positive control PCR profile was obtained using DNA extracted from a stool sample tested positive for Blastocystis sp. by direct microscopy that had been discarded from the study because the shedding species was not chimpanzee but Gorilla gorilla. The negative control PCR profile was obtained using water instead of DNA.