IDENTIFICATION OF MALARIA-INFECTED DRIED MOSQUITOS BY BIOTINYLATED DNA-PROBE

Dot-blot hybridization with cloned genomic DNA labeled with photobioti n as a probe is used to detect Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in dr ied mosquitoes. The assay is sensitive enough to detect 2 pg Plasmodiu m parasite DNA, or one infected mosquito in a pool of 40 insects using DNA extraction samples, or one infected mosquito in a pool of 25 inse cts without DNA extraction. A single mosquito squashed directly on a n itrocellulose filter for the determination of parasites provides a sim ple method for the detection of sporozoites. The mosquitoes triturated in reduction buffer were efficient for the screening of malaria infec tion of mosquitoes in a large number of samples. The species specifici ty, sensitivity, and ease of performance of this assay as well as the stability of the reagents may make it a useful epidemiological tool.