Identification of mosquito bloodmeals using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with order-specific primers

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed to identify host bloodmeals from mosquitoes. Primers for the cytochrome b gene were designed to distinguish between mammalian and avian bloodmeals and further differentiate among four avian orders: passeriformes, falconiformes, columbiformes,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of medical entomology Vol. 40; no. 2; p. 215
Main Authors Ngo, Kiet A, Kramer, Laura D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 01.03.2003
Subjects
Animals
Base Sequence
Birds - blood
Birds - classification
Birds - parasitology
Blood
Culicidae - genetics
Culicidae - physiology
Cytochrome b Group - blood
Cytochrome b Group - genetics
DNA Primers
Feeding Behavior
Geography
New York
Restriction Mapping
Sensitivity and Specificity
Songbirds - blood
Songbirds - classification
Songbirds - parasitology
Species Specificity
New York
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Summary:A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol was developed to identify host bloodmeals from mosquitoes. Primers for the cytochrome b gene were designed to distinguish between mammalian and avian bloodmeals and further differentiate among four avian orders: passeriformes, falconiformes, columbiformes, and galliformes. The assay was validated by testing tissues from 18 species of passeriformes, three species of falconiformes, three species of columbiformes, and two species of galliformes. American crows were distinguished from other passeriformes by restriction enzyme digestion. Host bloodmeals from engorged mosquitoes collected in New York State were identified to avian order level. PCR was able to detect the mosquito bloodmeal for up to 3 d after feeding on a quail. Significantly, these studies use order-specific primers in a single PCR test to identify mosquito bloodmeals.
ISSN:0022-2585
DOI:10.1603/0022-2585-40.2.215