Development of a species-diagnostic polymerase chain reaction assay for the identification of Culex vectors of St. Louis encephalitis virus based on interspecies sequence variation in ribosomal DNA spacers.

摘要: Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes (Cx. p. and Cx. quinquefasciatus) are among the principal vectors of St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus in eastern United States; restuans salinarius play secondary roles transmission maintenance cycle. Accurate identification these three species field collections is required for epidemiologic studies SLE transmission. We have developed a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay this purpose. Species-specific PCR primers were designed based on interspecies nucleic acid sequence variation first second internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 ITS2) nuclear ribosomal DNA gene array; however, insufficient was detected to differentiate between subspecies complex. The used together single amplification correctly identify specimens using genomic extracted from whole individual mosquitoes, triturated mosquito pools, or crude heads legs.