Sex-typing of ingested human blood meal in Anopheles stephensi mosquito based on the amelogenin gene

Talebzadeh, Fahimeh; Raoofian, Reza; Ghadipasha, Masoud; Moosa-Kazemi, Seyed Hassan; Akbarzadeh, Kamran; Oshaghi, Mohammad Ali

doi:10.1016/j.exppara.2023.108517

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…This is consistent with a short amplicon (103–118 bp) assay for the identification of sand fly blood meal, which could detect various small amounts of the host DNA up to 120 h after blood-feeding [ 49 ]. However, the use of longer amplicons generally permits detection of host DNA for 1–4 days post-feeding [ 8 , 35 , 50 – 54 ]. In forensic studies, short amplicons of short tandem repeat (STR) alleles (normally < 200 bp) are used to identify an individual from blood or tissue isolated from insects [ 37 , 38 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Single-copy nuclear genes can also be used to identify the source of an arthropod blood meal [ 35 ]. However, when working with such a small amount of starting material, the amplification of target DNA can be more challenging with single-copy genes, thus a preferred approach is the use of Alu elements, which are transposable elements (TEs) that exist only in primates [ 36 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Efficiency of mitochondrial genes and nuclear Alu elements in detecting human DNA in blood meals of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes: a time-course study

et al. 2023

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Background The time required for PCR detection of DNA in human blood meals in vector mosquitoes may vary, depending on the molecular markers used, based on the size and copy number of the amplicons. Detailed knowledge of the blood-feeding behavior of mosquito populations in nature is an essential component for evaluating their vectorial capacity and for assessing the roles of individual vertebrates as potential hosts involved in the transmission of vector-borne diseases. Methods Laboratory experiments were conducted to compare the time course of PCR detection of DNA in human blood meals from individual blood-fed Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes, using loci with different characteristics, including two mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genes, cytB (228 bp) and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) (157 bp) and nuclear Alu-repeat elements (226 bp) at different time points after the blood meal. Results Human DNA was detectable up to 84–120 h post-blood-feeding, depending on the length and copy number of the loci. Our results suggest that 16S rRNA and Alu-repeat markers can be successfully recovered from human DNA up to 5 days post-blood-meal. The 16S rDNA and Alu-repeat loci have a significantly (P = 0.008) slower decline rate than the cytB locus. Median detection periods (T50) for the amplicons were 117, 113 and 86.4 h for Alu-repeat, 16S rDNA and cytB, respectively, suggesting an inverse linear relationship between amplicon size/copy number and digestion time. Conclusion This comparative study shows that the Alu-repeat locus is the most efficient marker for time-course identification of human DNA from blood meals in female mosquitoes. It is also a promising tool for determining the anthropophilic index (AI) or human blood index (HBI), i.e. the proportion of blood meals from humans, which is often reported as a relative measure of anthropophagy of different mosquito vectors, and hence a measure of the vector competence of mosquito species collected in the field. Graphical Abstract

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Efficiency of mitochondrial genes and nuclear Alu elements in detecting human DNA in blood meals of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes: a time-course study

et al. 2023

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À la carte: how mosquitoes choose their blood meals

Blanken,

Prudhomme O’Meara,

Hol

et al. 2024

Trends in Parasitology

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Host preference of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes for blood feeding in south of Iran: Insights from Multiplex‐PCR analysis

Oshaghi,

Abbasi,

Hanafi‐Bojd

2024

Tropical Med Int Health

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BackgroundThe study aims to determine the host preference for blood feeding among potential hosts of Anopheles stephensi in Iran, using the Multiplex‐PCR method. An. stephensi is the primary malaria vector in urban areas of South Asia and the Middle East, including southern Iran, where approximately 30.21% of malaria cases are urban. This trend has become more evident during the recent outbreaks in Iran, driven by infections of Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, and as well as mixed infections. Hormozgan province, one of the most endemic areas in Iran, was selected for its critical public health significance. This study builds on the validated efficiency of Multiplex‐PCR for blood meal analysis by applying it to mosquitoes in southern Iran.MethodsIn 2021, mosquitoes were collected monthly from three coastal villages in Bandar Abbas county, Hormozgan province, using WHO‐recommended collection methods. Blood‐fed An. stephensi mosquitoes were dissected, and their stomach contents analysed via Multiplex‐PCR to identify human and animal blood sources.ResultsOf 77 An. stephensi samples analysed, humans were the most common host was humans (29.9%), followed by mammals (19%), dogs (2.6%), and birds (1.3%). Mixed blood meals were detected in 34% of samples, including 23% with human and other hosts. Informal observations suggest that domestic animals such as goats, sheep, and chickens are commonly present near homes in these areas.ConclusionApproximately 50% of An. stephensi blood meals were sourced from humans, with 29% exclusively from humans and 23% from mixed hosts. Domestic animals such as goats, sheep, and chickens appear to attract mosquitoes, highlighting their potential role in malaria dynamics. Zooprophylaxis, alongside existing measures like insecticide residual spraying, insecticide‐treated bed nets, and personal protection strategies, may strengthen urban malaria control. Further research on the ecological and behavioural drivers of mosquito host selection in urban settings is warranted.

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Sex-typing of ingested human blood meal in Anopheles stephensi mosquito based on the amelogenin gene

Cited by 3 publications

References 31 publications

Efficiency of mitochondrial genes and nuclear Alu elements in detecting human DNA in blood meals of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes: a time-course study

Efficiency of mitochondrial genes and nuclear Alu elements in detecting human DNA in blood meals of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes: a time-course study

À la carte: how mosquitoes choose their blood meals

Host preference of Anopheles stephensi mosquitoes for blood feeding in south of Iran: Insights from Multiplex‐PCR analysis

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