title: Comparison of two ribosomal DNA-based methods for differentiating members of the Anopheles gambiae complex (Diptera: Culicidae).
abstract: Two DNA-based methods, the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were used to identify mosquitoes of the Anopheles gambiae Giles complex collected in Kenya. Field-collected specimens of An. gambiae, An. arabiensis Patton, and An. merus Donity were tested. From a sample of 208 mosquitoes, 181 (87%) were identified by the RFLP method and 205 (99%) were identified by the PCR method. There was complete concordance between the two methods with regard to species identification. PCR assays were simpler, faster, and more reliable than RFLP assays.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control-Kenya, Nairobi.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Paskewitz
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Copeland
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koros
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Githure
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D007630:Kenya; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal