Source
Department of Cell Biology, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100054, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To detect malaria DNA in mosquitoes.
METHODS:
A nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) procedure which amplifies a 121 bp DNA of a SSUrRNA gene specific to Plasmodium vivax was used.
RESULTS:
In laboratory-infected mosquitoes, nested PCR could detect as few as 3 sporozoites or 1 infected mosquito mixed in a group of 99 normal ones. Furthermore, no specific 121 bp band was seen with DNA templates from other malaria parasites or negative mosquitoes.
CONCLUSION:
Sensitivity and specificity obtained indicated an advantage of the nested PCR over DNA probes or direct PCR for the detection of Plasmodium vivax sporozoites in mosquitoes with low-grade parasitic infections.