Nested polymerase chain reaction in detection of Plasmodium vivax sporozoites in mosquitoes

Objective To detect malaria in mosquitoes. Methods A nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR) procedure which amp lifies 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 a s 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 t he nested PCR over DNA probes or direct PCR for the detection of Plasmodium vivax sporozoites in mosquitoes with low-grade parasitic infections.