PCR DETECTION OF MALARIA PARASITES IN ANOPHELES STEPHENSI AND ANOPHELES CULICIFACIES MOSQUITOES COLLECTED FROM SOUTHERN ENDEMIC FOCI OF IRAN

A total of 509 Anopheles Stephensi and 20 Anopheles Culicifacies mosquitoes were collected during two seasonal activity peaks (June, July, August and September) in the years 2000 and 2001, from 36 localities around Minab, Iranshahr and Kahnouj cities. The identity of specimens was confirmed using Shahgodian PAN morphological key. DNA was extracted from the head and thorax of all specimens and subjected to nested PCR using species-specific primers for Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum. Three An. Stephensi mosquitoes from Minab and one An. Culicifacies mosquito from Iranshahr were positive for P. vivax, while one An. Stephensi was shown to harbor both P. vivax and P. falciparum.