Open AccessMolecular characterization of the Anopheles maculipennis complex in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Author(s) -
Mohammad Ali Oshaghi,
Mohammad Mehdi Sedaghat,
Hassan Vatandoost
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
eastern mediterranean health journal/eastern mediterranean health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.442
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1687-1634
pISSN - 1020-3397
DOI - 10.26719/2003.9.4.659
Subject(s) - islamic republic , anopheles , islam , malaria , biology , geography , immunology , archaeology
A diagnostic polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay using species-specific primers and direct sequencing was used to identify members of the Anopheles maculipennis complex in the north-west and central regions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Specimens were collected from 9 provinces during 2 seasonal activities in 2001-2002, identified morphologically and subjected to PCR assay and direct sequencing. Results showed that only 2 species, An. maculipennis Meigen, and An. sacharovi Faver, were present in the area of study. This was confirmed by the high similarity [99.2%-100%] of their sequences with those available in GenBank. The molecular data and relative distribution of these species in relation to their vectorial capacity and the epidemiology of malaria in the region are discussed