Detection of dengue virus NS1 antigen in infected Aedes aegypti using a commercially available kit

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2013 Feb;88(2):260-6. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0477. Epub 2012 Nov 26.

Abstract

Epidemic dengue has emerged throughout the tropical world. In the continued absence of a vaccine against dengue virus (DENV), mosquito vector surveillance and control programs are essential to reduce human infections. An effective test to detect DENV in infected mosquitoes would be a valuable addition to the surveillance effort. We investigated DENV detection in infected Aedes aegypti using a commercially available DENV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) ELISA kit (Platelia Dengue NS1 Ag), and by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and virus isolation assays. The DENV-infected mosquitoes were subjected to field-relevant conditions and assayed individually and pooled with uninfected mosquitoes. Overall, DENV NS1 antigen was detected in 98% of infected mosquitoes/pools versus 79% for RT-PCR and 29% for virus isolation. Our results indicate that NS1 is an excellent analyte for detection of DENV in Ae. aegypti and that the tested NS1 antigen kit provides a sensitive, rapid, and convenient test for DENV surveillance in mosquitoes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aedes / virology*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Viral / genetics
  • Antigens, Viral / isolation & purification*
  • Dengue Virus / isolation & purification*
  • Dengue Virus / pathogenicity
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Insect Vectors / virology*
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / genetics
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Antigens, Viral
  • NS1 protein, Dengue virus type 2
  • RNA, Viral
  • Viral Nonstructural Proteins