IDENTIFICATION OF HOST DNA BY AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISM ANALYSIS - PRELIMINARY-ANALYSIS OF HUMAN CRAB LOUSE (ANOPLURA, PEDICULIDAE) EXCRETA

The ability to identify individual hosts of hematophagous arthropods v ia bloodmeal analyses is a continuing pursuit in both medical and fore nsic entomology. Characterization of human DNA from blood-feeding arth ropods has been advanced substantially by preparation techniques, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Successful application of amp lified fragment length polymorphism (AMP-FLP) analysis to excreta obta ined from adult crab lice, Pthirus pubis (L.), fed on human volunteers is reported herein. Human DNA derived from crab louse excreta was typ ed successfully for two human DNA genetic markers, D1S80 and HUMTH01. Although preliminary, these results illustrate the ability of AMP-FLP analyses to provide individual human locus characterizations from desi ccated arthropod excrement.