Mosquito protein microassay. II. Modification for potential field use.

A simple microassay is described for determining protein levels in individual mosquitoes; this method should be useful on a routine basis in the field. This method requires only a small portion of a homogenate of a single mosquito. Sugar-fed adult female Anopheles albimanus showed a slow decline in protein level for 14 days post-emergence. Blood volumes and blood-meal protein levels were microassayed, and changes in protein level were monitored throughout the reproductive cycle. Blood-fed Anopheles albimanus protein levels return only slowly to pre-feeding levels following egg deposition.