The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for the identification of blood-meals of haematophagous insects

Abstract

Abstract A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was developed to detect blood-meals in insects and identify the host fed on. The test proved both sensitive and specific. Very small quantities of fresh blood (about 0·02 μl) can be detected; in practice, this enables blood in mosquitoes which are about three-quarters gravid to be identified. In trials in both Zambia and Britain, positive reactions were easily identified visually; consequently, this enabled the ELISA technique to be used as a routine field test. In addition to those of mosquitoes, blood-meals of a few Culicoides species were also successfully identified.