ABSTRACT

Malaria is the most important vector borne disease in the world and is endemic in the southeastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Most important vector species for this disease are found within the Anopheles maculipennis group that is distributed in the Palaearctic Region. The aim of this study was to identify the species of this group distributed within the regions of Birecik, Beyşehir and Çankırı using molecular methods. The results of the molecular analysis indicated that only populations of An. sacharovi which is the main malaria vector in our country are found in Biricik. Anopheles maculipennis s.s, Anopheles melanoon and An. sacharovi were identified in the Beyşehir region and An. maculipennis s.s and An. Sacharovi, in the Çankırı region. The most abundant species in Beyşehir and Çankırı has been determined to be An. maculipennis s.s.

Keywords: Anopheles maculipennis group, An. maculipennis s.s, An. sacharovi, An. melanoon, molecular identification