Persistence of viral RNA in chikungunya virus-infected Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) mosquitoes after prolonged storage at 28°C.
Experiments were conducted to determine the persistence of chikungunya viral (CHIKV) RNA in experimentally infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes stored for prolonged periods at 28°C. Intra-thoracically inoculated mosquitoes with confirmed positivity were killed by quick freezing at -80°C, applied to sticky tape, and stored at 28°C with 80 ± 5% relative humidity (RH). At weekly intervals, five mosquitoes were removed from the tape randomly and assayed individually for detection of viral RNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). CHIKV RNA was detected up to 12 weeks in dry mosquitoes by RT-PCR. Virus could not be isolated either in cell culture or in the suckling Swiss-albino mouse system at any stage. This study demonstrated the persistence of CHIKV viral RNA up to 12 weeks when stored at 28°C with RH 80 ± 5%. This finding will have significance in CHIKV surveillance programs in mosquito populations or field-based studies in countries where maintenance of a cold chain is a concern.
National Institute of Virology, Pune, India. mavale.ms@niv.co.in
Mangala
M
Mavale
Anakkathil
A
Sudeep
Mangesh
M
Gokhale
Supriya
S
Hundekar
Deepti
D
Parashar
Youwaraj
Y
Ghodke
Vidya
V
Arankalle
Akhilesh Chandra
AC
Mishra
D000330:Aedes / Q000821:virology*; D000818:Animals; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005260:Female; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
D012367:RNA, Viral