Allele Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (AS-PCR) Assay to Detect Knockdown and Acetylcholinesterase Mutations in Anopheles superpictus

Objective: The study aims to determine the presence of L1014F, L1014S, L1014C alleles, which are responsible for knockdown resistance and Ace-1 G119S alleles, which are responsible for acetylcholinesterase insensitivity in Anopheles superpictus, the secondary vector of malaria in Turkey.

Methods: In this study, 60 Anopheles superpictus adult females were collected from Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla provinces. Then, allele-specific primers for kdr L1014F, L1014S, and L1014C alleles, and the Ace-1 G119S allele were designed. The presence of these alleles was screened in three Anopheles superpictus populations by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Although L1014S allele frequency was too low in Aydın, Muğla, and Denizli populations, neither kdr L1014F and L1014C nor Ace-1 G119S mutations were found in any population.

Conclusion: In this study, kdr L1014S mutation was detected for the first time in the Aegean Anopheles superpictus populations.