[Identification of mosquitoes' human food source by using the co-agglutination technique]

Rev Cubana Med Trop. 1997;49(2):125-9.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

The utilization of a coagglutination technique for the identification of a human source for feeding mosquitoes is described. The dilution of ingested blood samples in filter paper was performed in 2 mL of a sodium chloride solution at 0.85%. It was used a suspension of sensibilized Staphylococcus aureus with rabbit's serum, human plasmatic anti-proteins, and human anti-IgG rabbit's serum discriminated well between human and non human blood. No agglutination was observed with the negative control. This technique proved to be sensitive to identify 100% of the human blood samples taken to the paper 24 hours after the mosquitoes completed their feeding at a temperature of 26 to 28 degrees C. Among mosquitoes fed and collected in the fields the test had a satisfactory result. Therefore, it may be used in routine work in the fields. The results showed the sensitivity and specificity of this method for identifying human blood ingested by mosquitoes.

Publication types

  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests*
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / immunology
  • Blood Proteins / immunology
  • Blood*
  • Culicidae / physiology*
  • Feeding Behavior
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Contents*
  • Humans
  • Immunodiffusion
  • Rabbits
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Species Specificity
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic
  • Blood Proteins
  • anti-IgG