PCR detection of malaria parasites and related haemosporidians: the sensitive methodology in determining bird-biting insects.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Knowledge about feeding preference of blood-sucking insects is important for the better understanding epidemiology of vector-borne parasitic diseases. Extraction of DNA from blood present in abdomens of engorged insects provides opportunities to identify species of their vertebrate hosts. However, this approach often is insufficiently sensitive due to rapid degeneration of host DNA in midguts. Recent studies indicate that avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) and related haemosporidians (Haemosporida) belonging to Haemoproteus can persist both in vectors and resistant blood-sucking insects for several weeks after initial blood meals, and these parasites can be readily detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. Because avian haemosporidians are cosmopo

SUBMITTER: Bernotiene R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4875587 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature