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Comparison of Three Methods for Detection of Plasmodium Oocysts in Wild-Caught Mosquitoes

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Abstract

One hundred forty-nine Anopheles gambiae s.l. and 260 A. funestus were collected from the field in Namawala, Tanzania in June 1994. The mosquitoes were dissected and examined for plasmodium oocysts using two microscopic techniques and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The oldest and simplest technique, the saline test, detected oocysts in 94 out of the 97 mosquitoes found to have oocysts by the more sensitive merbromin stain and PCR techniques. The saline test was found to be a sensitive and reliable field technique for detection of large Plasmodium oocysts in mosquitoes. The merbromin staining technique was as sensitive as PCR, detecting even small oocysts.

Résumé

Cent quarante-neuf Anopheles gambiae s.l. et deux cent soixante (260) A. funestus ont été collectées en juin 1994, dans un champ à Namawala en Tanzanie. Les moustiques étaient disséqués et examinés pour la détection des oocysts de Plasmodium par deux techniques microscopiques et par la méthode de réaction de la chaîne polymérase (RCP). L’emploi de la solution saline, une technique très ancienne et très simple, a permis de détecter des oocytes chez 94 des 97 moustiques ayant déjà témoigne de la présence des oocysts par les techniques très sensibles: les traces de merbromine et la RCP. Le test par la solution saline s’est révélé être une technique sensible et faible de terrain pour détecter de gros oocytes chez les moustiques infectés de Plasmodium. La technique des traces de merbromine était aussi sensible que la RCP détectant même les petits oocytes.

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Edoh, D., Haji, H. Comparison of Three Methods for Detection of Plasmodium Oocysts in Wild-Caught Mosquitoes. Int J Trop Insect Sci 18, 113–117 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400007748

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