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Rapid Identification of Aedes albopictus, Aedes scutellaris, and Aedes aegypti Life Stages Using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays

In 2005, a widespread infestation of Aedes albopictus was discovered in the Torres Strait, the region between northern Australia and New Guinea. To contain this species, an eradication program was implemented in 2006. However, the progress of this program is impeded by the difficulty of morphologically separating Ae. albopictus larvae from the endemic species Aedes scutellaris. In this study, three real-time TaqMan polymerase chain reaction assays that target the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 region were developed to rapidly identify Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus, and Ae. scutellaris from northern Australia. Individual eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults, as well as the species composition of mixed pools were accurately identified. The assay method was validated using 703 field-collected specimens from the Torres Strait.

Received February 25, 2008. Accepted for publication August 20, 2008.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank Nigel Beebe, Donna Mackenzie, Sonja Hall-Mendelin, Petrina Johnson, Russell Simmons, Judy Northill, and Ina Smith for advice and assistance with aspects of this study. We also thank Peter Ebbsworth and Esonke Waraung for collecting the larval samples from New Guinea. Finally, the authors thank Alyssa Pyke for reading a draft of the manuscript.

Financial Support: Funding for this study was provided by the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease.

^* Address correspondence to Andrew F. van den Hurk, Virology, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, Queensland, 4108, Australia. E-mail: andrew_hurk{at}health.qld.gov.au

Authors’ addresses: Lydia A. Hill, Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia. Joseph B. Davis, George Hapgood, and Scott A. Ritchie, Tropical Population Health Unit Network, Queensland Health, PO Box 1103, Cairns, Queensland, 4870, Australia, E-mails: joe_davis{at}health.qld.gov.au, george_hapgood{at}health.qld.gov.au, and scott_ritchie{at}health.qld.gov.au. Peter I. Whelan, Medical Entomology, Centre for Disease Control, Department of Health and Community Services, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0810 Australia, E-mail: Peter.Whelan{at}nt.gov.au. Greg A. Smith and Andrew F. van den Hurk, Virology, Queensland Health Forensic and Scientific Services, 39 Kessels Rd., Coopers Plains, Queensland, 4108, Australia, E-mails: greg_smith{at}health.qld.gov.au and andrew_hurk{at}health.qld.gov.au. R. D. Cooper, Australian Army Malaria Institute, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, Queensland, 4051, Australia, E-mail: Bob.Cooper{at}defence.gov.au.