Population Structure of the Primary Malaria Vector in South America, Anopheles darlingi, Using Isozyme, Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA, Internal Transcribed Spacer 2, and Morphologic Markers

Abstract

A genetic and morphologic survey of Anopheles darlingi populations collected from seven countries in Central and South America was performed to clarify the taxonomic status of this major malaria vector species in the Americas. Population genetics was based on three techniques including isozyme, random amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR), and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) markers. The results of the isozyme analysis indicated moderate differences in the allele frequencies of three putative loci (glutamate oxalaoacetate transaminase-1, isocitrate dehydrogenase-1, and phosphoglucomutase) of the 31 analyzed. No fixed electromorphic differences separated the populations of An. darlingi, which showed little genetic divergence (Nei distances = 0.976-0.995). Fragments produced by RAPD-PCR demonstrated evidence of geographic partitioning and showed that all populations were separated by small genetic distances as measured with the 1 - S distance matrix. The ITS2 sequences for all samples were identical except for four individuals from Belize that differed by a three-base deletion (CCC). The morphologic study demonstrated that the Euclidean distances ranged from 0.02 to 0.14, with the highest value observed between populations from Belize and Bolivia. Based on these analyses, all the An. darlingi populations examined demonstrated a genetic similarity that is consistent with the existence of a single species and suggest that gene flow is occurring throughout the species' geographic range.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1999
Accession Number
ADA513308

Entities

People

  • Donald R. Roberts
  • James A. Danoff-burg
  • Jan E. Conn
  • Richard C. Wilkerson
  • Sylvie Manguin
  • Yasmin Rubio-palis

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Analysis Of Variance
  • Biology
  • Central America
  • Chain Reactions
  • Chemical Reactions
  • Colombia
  • French Guiana
  • Genes
  • Genetic Techniques
  • Genetics
  • Geographic Distribution
  • Health
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • South America
  • Statistical Analysis
  • Universities
  • Venezuela

Readers

  • Molecular and genetic basis of cancer.
  • Vector-Borne Disease and Entomology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology