A multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction-based assay for the identification of three container dwelling mosquito species

The internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) has been previously used as the foundation for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based identification of mosquitoes. Problems encountered in separating eggs from endemic and exotic container breeding mosquito species resulted in the development of a real-time quantitative PCR procedure using the ITS region. Using small amounts of DNA, such as DNA from eggs, the assay identifies three medically important species- Aedes albopictus, Aedes japonicus, and Aedes triseriatus- within the mid-western and mid-atlantic regions. This method is a convenient tool for entomological field surveys, allowing for early detection of emergent mosquitoes.