%0 Journal Article
%T Blood Meal Identification in Field-Captured Sand flies: Comparison of PCR-RFLP and ELISA Assays
%A N Maleki-Ravasan
%A MA Oshaghi
%A E Javadian
%A Y Rassi
%J Iranian Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases
%D 2009
%I 
%X Background: We aimed to develop a PCR-RFLP assay based on available sequences of putative vertebrate hosts to iden-tify blood meals ingested by field female sand fly in the northwest of Iran. In addition, the utility of PCR-RFLP was compared with ELISA as a standard method."nMethods: This experimental study was performed in the Insect Molecular Biology Laboratory of School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2006-2007. For PCR-RFLP a set of conserved vertebrate prim-ers were used to amplify a part of the host mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b) gene followed by digestion of the PCR products by Hae III enzyme."nResults: The PCR-RFLP and ELISA assays revealed that 34% and 27% of field-collected sand flies had fed on hu-mans, respectively. Additionally, PCR-RFLP assays could reveal specific host DNA as well as the components of mixed blood meals. Results of PCR-RFLP assay showed that the sand flies had fed on cow (54%), human (10%), dog (4%), human and cow (21%), dog and cow (14%), and human and dog (3%). "nConclusion: The results can provide a novel method for rapid diagnosis of blood meal taken by sandflies. The advan-tages and limitations of PCR and ELISA assays are discussed.
%K Leishmaniasis
%K sand flies
%K blood meal
%K PCR
%K ELISA
%K Iran
%U http://journals.tums.ac.ir/PdfMed.aspx?pdf_med=/upload_files/pdf/14244.pdf&manuscript_id=14244