title: A polymerase chain reaction-based diagnostic to identify larvae and eggs of container mosquito species from the Australian region.
abstract: Dengue outbreaks occur regularly in parts of northern Queensland, Australia, and there is concern that these outbreaks may spread with the introduction and range expansion of the two main vectors Aedes aegypti (L.) and Aedes albopictus (Skuse). Problems encountered in separating larvae of endemic and exotic container mosquito species resulted in the development of a polymerase chain reaction diagnostic procedure that uses a restriction enzyme to cut the internal transcribed spacer region 1 of the ribosomal DNA to separate Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus from a number of common local container mosquito species which can be used at any stage of the life cycle, including eggs up to 8 wk of age. Identification was possible using desiccated or alcohol-preserved specimens with a response time of < 24 h after receipt of the specimens.
authors.affiliation: Institute for the Biotechnology of Infectious Diseases, University of Technology Sydney, Cnr Harris and Thomas St., Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia. nigel.beebe@uts.edu.au
authors.forename: Nigel W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Beebe
authors.forename: Peter I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Van den Hurk
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva; D010063:Ovum; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D004247:DNA