Detection of St. Louis encephalitis virus in mosquitoes by use of the polymerase chain reaction.

D. K. Howe, M. H. Vodkin, R. J. Novak, C. J. Mitchell, G. L. McLaughlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

We recently developed an assay using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the specific detection of St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) virus RNA. This assay was tested in a blind study on 7 samples of pooled mosquitoes (50 mosquitoes/pool) which were also characterized for SLE virus by plaque assay in Vero cell culture. One sample was positive for the SLE virus as determined by both the PCR assay and a combination of the plaque assay and the indirect fluorescent antibody assay. The remaining 6 samples were negative for the presence of SLE virus as determined by both methods. These data indicate that this PCR assay can be used to monitor for the presence of SLE virus in pools of homogenized mosquitoes. This approach could provide early data on which to base disease control decisions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)333-335
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Volume8
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Insect Science

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