title: Development, standardization and validation of molecular techniques for malaria vector species identification, trophic preferences, and detection ofPlasmodium falciparum.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowledge on prevalence of malaria vector species of a certain area provides important information for implementation of appropriate control strategies. The present study describes a rapid method for screening of major Anopheline vector species and at the same time detection of Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite infection and blood meal preferences/trophic preferences.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried from February 2012 to March 2013 in three seasons, i.e. rainy, winter and summer in Jhumpura PHC of Keonjhar district, Odisha, India. Processing of mosquitoes was carried out in two different methods, viz. mosquito pool (P1) and mosquito DNA pool (P2). Pool size for both the methods was standardized for DNA isolation and multiplex PCR assay. This PCR based assay was employed to screen the major vector com- position in three different seasons of four different ecotypes of Keonjhar district. Pearson's correlation coefficient was determined for a comparative analysis of the morphological identification with the pool prevalence assay for each ecotype.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A pool size of 10 was standardized for DNA isolation as well as PCR. PCR assay revealed that the average pool prevalence for all ecotypes was highest for An. annularis in winter and summer whereas for An. culicifacies it was rainy season. Foothill and plain ecotypes contributed to highest and lowest vectorial abundance respectively. The results of the prevalence of vector species in pool from PCR based assay were found to be highly correlated with that of the results of morphological identification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening by pool based PCR assay is relatively rapid as compared to conventional identification and can be employed as an important tool in malaria control programmes.
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre, (ICMR), Nalco Square, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: Animesha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre, (ICMR), Nalco Square, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: Manas R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Prusty
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre, (ICMR), Nalco Square, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: Sushanta K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Barik
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre, (ICMR), Nalco Square, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: Mumani
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Das
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre, (ICMR), Nalco Square, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: Hare K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Tripathy
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre, (ICMR), Nalco Square, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: Namita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahapatra
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre, (ICMR), Nalco Square, Chandrasekharpur, Bhubaneswar, India.
authors.forename: Rupenangshu K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hazra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000502:physiology; D004772:Entomology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D007194:India; D008288:Malaria / Q000635:transmission; D000072138:Mosquito Vectors; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012621:Seasons