Deployable, field-sustainable, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays for rapid screening and serotype identification of dengue virus in mosquitoes

Mil Med. 2007 Mar;172(3):329-34. doi: 10.7205/milmed.172.3.329.

Abstract

Dengue virus universal and serotype 1 to 4 fluorogenic probe hydrolysis, reverse transcription (RT)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays and positive-control RNA template were freeze-dried in a thermally stable, hydrolytic enzyme-resistant format and deployed for testing in a dengue fever-endemic region of Thailand. The study site presented austere testing conditions. Field-collected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spiked with inoculated A. aegypti mosquitoes and individual and pooled, field-collected, A. aegypti, A. albopictus, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes were used for RT-PCR assay evaluations. For dengue virus-inoculated A. aegypti mosquitoes and spiked samples, in vitro sensitivity and specificity results for all five assays were concordant with indirect fluorescent antibody assay results. A single pool of field-collected, female, A. aegypti mosquitoes was identified as dengue virus positive. Cross-reactivity was not observed across heterologous serotypes, mosquito vectors, or human DNA. The limit of detection was >7 to < or =70 genomic equivalents. Sample processing and analysis required <2 hours. These results show promise of field-formatted RT-PCR reagents for rapid, sensitive, specific dengue virus screening and serotype identification in mosquitoes under field-deployed conditions.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Culicidae / virology*
  • Dengue Virus / genetics*
  • Dengue Virus / isolation & purification
  • Densovirinae / genetics
  • Densovirinae / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening*
  • Mobile Health Units*
  • Pilot Projects
  • RNA
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / instrumentation*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Serotyping / instrumentation
  • Serotyping / methods
  • Thailand
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • RNA