›› 1984, Vol. 2 ›› Issue (1): 39-42.

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STUDY ON AN AGAR GEL DIFFUSION METHOD FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF MOSQUITO BLOOD MEALS

  

  • Received:2017-01-12 Revised:2017-01-12 Online:1984-02-28 Published:2017-01-12

Abstract: Agar gel diffusion was carried out in this study to identify the host source of mosquito blood meals. For comparison, the precipitin ring test was done simultaneously.For the agar gel diffusion test, optimal concentrations of antigen and amiserum, optimal temperature and reaction time were determined. Specimens of blood meals of Anopheles sinensis artificially fed on the fresh cattle blood through a membrane and from fields were collected and tested. It was demonstrated that when the dilution of antigens was 1:500-1:1000 and that of antiserum 1:4, and the 'test performed at 24-37℃ for 24 hours, the results were consistant with those of precipitin ring test. However, in the latter test, 7.8% of the specimens cross-reacted with horse and sheep. It appears that the agar gel diffusion test is more advantageous over the precipitin ring test in terms of its higher specificity for identification of mosquito blood meals. This method is also simple to perform.