Analysis of arthropod bloodmeals using molecular genetic markers.
Little is known about the transmission dynamics of human malaria and other vector-borne diseases, partly because of the limited availability and distribution of appropriate tools for quantifying human-mosquito contact rates. Recent developments in molecular biology have allowed a significant increase in the efficacy and reliability of bloodmeal identification, and DNA-based molecular markers are now being harnessed for typing arthropod bloodmeals. The extent to which these markers have been used for analysis of mosquito bloodmeals and the potential they might have for the future is discussed, and the contributions that the advent of PCR has made are examined here.
Mukabana
Wolfgang R
WR
Dept of Zoology, University of Nairobi, PO Box 30197, Nairobi, Kenya.
Takken
Willem
W
Knols
Bart G J
BG
D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000378:metabolism*; D001769:Blood / Q000469:parasitology*; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000378:metabolism*; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
D005819:Genetic Markers