title: Rapid detection of chikungunya virus in laboratory infected Aedes aegypti by Reverse-Transcriptase- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).
abstract: A study of chikungunya virus was carried out to establish Reverse Transcriptase- Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) as a rapid detection technique of the virus. The susceptibility of lab-colonized Aedes aegypti to chikungunya virus was also determined. Artificial membrane feeding technique was used to orally feed the mosquitoes with a human isolate of chikungunya virus. A total of 100 fully engorged female Ae. aegypti were obtained and maintained for 7 days. Seventy of them survived and then pooled at 10 individuals per pool. Total RNA was extracted from the samples and RT-PCR amplifications were carried out. Five out of 7 pools showed positive PCR band at 350-bp, indicating Ae. aegypti is a potential vector of chikungunya virus. The minimum infection rate (MIR) was 71% within these laboratory colonies. RT-PCR is a sensitive technique that is useful in detecting infected mosquitoes in epidemic areas. This technique can de used as a rapid detection method and provide an early virologic surveillance systems of chikungunya virus infected mosquitoes.
authors.affiliation: Medical Entomology Unit, Infectious Disease Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rohani
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yulfi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zamree
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology*; D007753:Laboratories; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral