title: Analysis of population genetic structure of Indian Anopheles culicifacies species A using microsatellite markers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anopheles culicifacies sensu lato is an important vector of malaria in Southeast Asia contributing to almost 70% of malaria cases in India. It exists as morphologically similar sibling species A, B, C, D and E with varied geographical distribution patterns. Vector control measures have been difficult for this important vector as the sibling species have developed varying levels of resistance to the currently used insecticides. In view of the importance of this vector, we developed and validated a set of microsatellite markers and the same were used to analyze the population genetic structure of five different geographical populations of An. culicifacies A.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anopheles culicifacies A samples were collected from different localities across India, and genotyping was performed using eight microsatellite markers on ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer. Several statistical analyses were performed to ascertain the genetic diversity that exists within and between the populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The markers were found to be moderately polymorphic in the populations. Genetic analysis indicated significant genetic differentiation between the majority of the population pairs analyzed and was not found to be related to the geographical distances between populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first and successful attempt to test the microsatellite markers developed for population genetic analysis of An. culicifacies A. Host feeding and breeding habits of species A suggest that factors other than ecological and geographical barriers were responsible for the genetic differentiation that has been observed between the populations.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Malaria Research, Sector 8, Dwarka, New Delhi 110 077, India.
authors.forename: Sujatha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sunil
authors.forename: Om P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Nutan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nanda
authors.forename: Kamaraju
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Raghavendra
authors.forename: B P Niranjan
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Sarala K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Subbarao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D007194:India; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D058974:Phylogeography