Received: August 17, 2007.

Accepted: November 22, 2007.

Abstract published online: November 24, 2007.

Full paper published online: May 31, 2008.

BIOTIN/AVIDIN SANDWICH ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY FOR CULICIDAE MOSQUITO BLOOD MEAL IDENTIFICATION

MARASSÁ A. M. (1), ROSA M. D. B. (2), GOMES A. C. (2), CONSALES C. A. (3)

(1) Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil; (2) Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; (3) Pasteur Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.

ABSTRACT: The knowledge of mosquitoes Culicidae host feeding patterns is basic to understand the roles of different species and to indicate their importance in the epidemiology of arthropod-borne diseases. A laboratory assay was developed aiming at standardizing the biotin-avidin sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which was unprecedented for mosquito blood meal identification. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) activity was evaluated by the detection of titers on each sample of the 28 blood-fed Culex quinquefasciatus. In light of the high sensitivity that the technique permits, by means of small quantities of specific antibodies commercially provided and phosphatase substrate which reinforces additional dilutions, human and rat blood meals were readily identified in all laboratory-raised Culex quinquefasciatus tested. The assay was effective to detect human blood meal dilutions up to 1:4,096, which enables the technique to be applied in field studies. Additionally, the present results indicate a significant difference between the detection patterns recorded from human blood meal which corroborate the results of host feeding patterns.

KEY WORDS: biotin/avidin sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Culicidae, blood meal identification.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: There is no conflict.

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

ANA MARIA MARASSÁ. Laboratório de Parasitoses Sistêmicas, Instituto Adofo Lutz, São Paulo, Brasil. Phone: +55 11 3068-2891. Email: anamarassa@usp.br.