Elisa for Identification of Blood Meal Source in Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae)

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Abstract
A modified ELISA, in which a biotinylated second antibody and a streptavidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex are used, has been developed to identify the blood meal sources of black flies. The modified assay is sensitive enough to identify correctly 100% of blood meals at 73 h postingestion and 80% of blood meals at 116 h postingestion in black flies held in the field at ambient temperatures.