Evidence of Genetic Polymorphism in Anopheles subpictus Populations from India

Anopheles subpictus is considered as a secondary vector of malaria with wider distribution, a prolific breeder in most part of India. Sibling species A of An. subpictus has been incriminated and established as a primary vector of malaria in some parts of India. Japanese encephalitis virus in India has also been isolated from 16 mosquito species including An. subpictus. An. subpictus is a major malaria vector in Sri Lanka. This species has also been reported to show insecticide resistant to DDT and dieldrin/HCH in various parts of India. Mosquitoes control remains the only viable strategy for preventing malaria and other mosquito borne-disease. Indiscriminate use of insecticides has resulted in the development of pesticide resistant strains and diminished the effectiveness of insecticides and moreover drug resistant strains of parasites that have further complicated the situation. An alternative strategy for vector control could be to exploit observed genetic variability in the vector populations. Moreover correct and precise identification of the target species has also medical and practical implications in vector control. In our present study, RAPD primers were screened to differentiate An. subpictus populations. POPGENE 1.31 software was used for statistical analysis and development of dendrogram based on RAPD fingerprints. In conclusion, we propose that our results on RAPD profiles of different An. subpictus populations provide evidence that there are enough and significant variations in the genomes of field collected populations from distant locations and the genetic pattern obtained in its various forms appears to be a major differentiating and orienting force for molecular changes in DNA across different populations.