[Investigation on blood-sucking habit of Anopheles (Diptera:Culicidae) using multiplex polymerase chain reaction in malaria-endemic area of Chayu County, Tibet].

Objective: To determine the blood-sucking habit of anopheline by mosquitoes bloodmeal identification in malaria endemic area Chayu County, Tibet Autonomous Region.

Methods: Three villages with different bio-environments were selected as the investigation spots. Light traps were set up outdoor and in livestock sheds from sunset (20:00) to sunrise (8:00) in 3-4 consecutive nights to collect mosquitoes. The trapped anophelines were counted and identified according to morphological criteria and multiple PCR method. A PCR-based methodology according to the mtDNA-cytb variations was used in different mammal hosts to identify bloodmeal sources in engorged mosquitoes. The human blood index (HBI) was assessed to determine the range of hosts.

Results: Among 1 442 anopheline mosquitoes collected by 108 light traps on 13 nights. 1436 (99.6%) belonged to Anopheles maculatus complex, with 85.5% An. pseudo-willmori and 14.5% An. willmori. Positive bloodmeal identification was found from 168 (83%) of 202 field-collected engorged mosquitoes. The crude HBI of An. pseudowillmori and An. willmori were 035 and 0.29, respectively.

Conclusion: An. pseudowillmori and An willmori are both zoophilic and anthropophilic, and An. pseudowillmori shows a higher HBI.