Dengue Fever Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dengue Fever, including details on symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, prevention.

Short Communication: detection of dengue virus antigens in desiccated mosquitoes: an improved tool for surveillance.

Thenmozhi V, Kabilan L, Samuel PP, Dash AP

Centre for Research in Medical Entomology, Indian Council of Medical Research, 4 Sarojini Street, Chinna Chokkikulam, Madurai 625 002, India. crmeicmr@icmr.org.in

We developed a surveillance tool to monitor dengue virus (DENV) infection in vector mosquitoes using a dengue antigen-capture enzyme immunoassay (EIA) on desiccated specimens stored at room temperature (RT). We tested the effect of storage on the stability of DEN1, DEN2, DEN3 and DEN4 antigens. Although desiccated infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes stored between 31 and 34 degrees C (RT) showed greater reactivity in the EIA than those stored at -80 degrees C, a significant difference between the two was observed only with DEN2. Storage between 31 and 34 degrees C for up to 4 weeks (the longest period tested) did not affect the reactivity in the EIA, indicating the stability of DENV antigens.

Published 31 January 2005 in Trop Med Int Health, 10(2): 187-9.
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