در پشه هاي ناقل و خون آلوده NESTED-PCR تشخيص گونه هاي انگل مالاريا به روش

Specific detection of malaria parasites using nested-PCR in individual mosquitoes and infected bloods in Chabahar and Iranshahr, Iran

Introduction: The aim of this study was to identify infectivity of Anopheles species with malaria parasites. Infectivity of malaria vector mosquitoes and infected bloods were tested by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested-PCR) assay in Chabahar and Iranshahr districts of Sistan-Baluchestan province, southeast of Iran. Mehtods: Investigation was carried out on 14 infected blood samples and 1294 female anopheline mosquitoes (head+thoarax) which were collected during 2 malaria transmission peaks, April-May and September-October 2002. The genus- and species-specific primers corresponding to small subunit ribosomal DNA (ssrDNA) of malaria parasites were used for specific amplification by a nested amplification and then the amplified DNA products were detected in stained gels. Results: The results revealed that Plasmodium vivax is the common malaria parasite species in the region, however, a proportion of blood samples were mixed infected by both P. falciparum and P.vivax. Among different anopheline species tested, only mosquitoes of Anopheles stephensi, with 0.22% infectivity, were infected by P. vivax. Conclusion: The Nested-PCR assay for detection and identification of malaria parasites in mosquitoes is used for the first time in Iran and has proven to be more sensitive, accurate, and friendly than other diagnostic methods and recommended for epidemiological studies in different malarious regions of Iran.