A DNA probe to distinguish the species Anopheles quadriannulatus from other species of the Anopheles gambiae complex

Abstract
DNA probes used previously to distinguish the species Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto, An.arabiensis, An.melas and An.merus were tested against An.quadriannulatus . Using these DNA probes, An.gambiae s.s. and An.quadriannulatus were indistinguishable. A genomic library was constructed for An.quadriannulatus . Differential screening of this genomic library with An.gambiae s.s. and An. quadriannulatus genomic DNAs identified a species-specific, repeated DNA sequence. When used as a hybridization probe, this DNA sequence clearly distinguished An.gambiae s.s. from An.quadriannulatus . A simplified protocol for the use of DNA probes is described which may be used to identify material squashed directly on to nitrocellulose filter paper.