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A latex agglutination test for the identification of blood-meals of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. Boorman ,
P. S. Mellor ,
P. F. L. Boreham  and
Rosemary S. Hewett
J. Boorman
Affiliation:
Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, U.K..
P. S. Mellor
Affiliation:
Animal Virus Research Institute, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey GU24 0NF, U.K..
P. F. L. Boreham
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London SW7 2AZ, U.K..
Rosemary S. Hewett
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology and Applied Entomology, Imperial College of Science and Technology, London SW7 2AZ, U.K..
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Abstract

A latex agglutination test to identify the sources of blood-meals of Culicoides is described. The method requires the minimum amounts of reagents and apparatus and would be suitable for rapid tests under field conditions. Blood-meals of Culicoides nubeculosus (Mg.) and C. variipennis (Coq.) from laboratory cultures, which had engorged on blood from several species of domestic animals, were differentiated without difficulty. In a series of ‘blind’ tests, the blood-meals of 49 C. variipennis from seven species of domestic animal were identified with 100% accuracy. The differentiation of blood-meals from closely related hosts, such as mouse and guineapig or ox and sheep, is entirely dependent upon the specificity of the antisera conjugated to the latex. Blood-meals could be identified reliably for about 48 h after ingestion at 20–25°C, but at higher temperatures the reaction became less reliable after 24 h. Detergents commonly used in collecting midges had no effect on the latex agglutination test, but 0–01% mertbiolate, often used as a preservative, caused auto-agglutination and cannot be used when this test is to be applied.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 67 , Issue 2 , June 1977 , pp. 305 - 311
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1977

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