title: Rapid identification of Aedes albopictus, Aedes scutellaris, and Aedes aegypti life stages using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays.
abstract: In 2005, a widespread infestation of Aedes albopictus was discovered in the Torres Strait, the region between northern Australia and New Guinea. To contain this species, an eradication program was implemented in 2006. However, the progress of this program is impeded by the difficulty of morphologically separating Ae. albopictus larvae from the endemic species Aedes scutellaris. In this study, three real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assays that target the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region were developed to rapidly identify Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Ae. scutellaris from northern Australia. Individual eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, as well as the species composition of mixed pools were accurately identified. The assay method was validated using 703 field-collected specimens from the Torres Strait.
authors.affiliation: School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Lydia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Joseph B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hapgood
authors.forename: Peter I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Whelan
authors.forename: Greg A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ritchie
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Andrew F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: van den Hurk
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D021901:DNA, Intergenic / Q000235:genetics; D007814:Larva / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D008018:Life Cycle Stages / Q000235:genetics*; D010063:Ovum / Q000145:classification; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011679:Pupa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D021901:DNA, Intergenic