A simple procedure for the extraction of trypanosome DNA and host protein from dried blood meal residues of haematophagous diptera.

A two step elution method is described for the extraction of host serum proteins and trypanosome DNA from a single dried insect gut smear preparation. The first low temperature elution yields material suitable for use in ELISA to determine the host species on which the fly last fed while the results of the second, high temperature, elution can be used in a PCR assay to detect the presence of trypansosomal DNA. The method can be used to extract material from both fly squashes and blood spots dried onto filter paper and could simplify the collection and processing of samples for epidemiological studies on trypanosomoses and other vector borne pathogens.