MT-CO1 and infection: In our study, in addition to four primers (two externals and two internals), two additional loop primers were included, resulting in recognition of a total of eight locations on the cox1 gene of C. sinensis. Thus, the LAMP assay in the present study was highly specific and did not cross-react with the DNA of other helminths, protozoa or E. coli including the closely related liver fluke O. viverrini. Hence, the assay must be robust enough to specifically detect C. sinensis infection in areas where mixed parasite infections occur.