COMPARISON OF TWO BLOOD MEAL PRESERVATION METHODS FOR USE IN ELISA-BASED IDENTIFICATION OF BLOOD-FED GWSSINA SPECIES

Abstract

Laboratory reared Glossina morsitans morsitans were fed on
immobilized Swiss Albino Mice in an attempt to compare delectability of blood meal preserved as filter paper smears or as whole intact dried specimens. Both techniques showed similar trends with regards to absorbance values. Moreover. the inclusion of 25 % ethanol seems to have improved the detection of the blood meal in both cases. Bloodmeals preserved on filter paper deteriorate rapidly with
time. Therefore it would be advantageous to preserve insects as dried whole specimens if the identification process is not performed immediately.