Applying a pan-flavivirus RT-qPCR assay in Brazilian public health surveillance

Author(s)

Cunha, Mariana Sequetin ^[1] ; Luchs, Adriana ^[2] ; Pereira dos Santos, Fabiana Cristina ^[3] ; Caleiro, Giovana Santos ^{[1, 4]} ; Nogueira, Mauricio Lacerda ^[5] ; Maiorka, Paulo Cesar ^[6]

Affiliation

^[1] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Virol Ctr, Vector Borne Dis Lab, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Virol Ctr, Enter Dis Lab, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Adolfo Lutz Inst, Virol Ctr, Resp Dis Lab, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Inst Trop Med, Virol Lab, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[5] Fac Med Sao Jose do Rio Preto FAMERP, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[6] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Pathol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARCHIVES OF VIROLOGY; v. 165, n. 8 MAY 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The aim of this study was to improve flavivirus field monitoring in Brazil using a reliable probe-based RT-qPCR assay. Standard flavivirus strains were employed to evaluate the performance of the assay, and its applicability was evaluated using 235 stored pools of Culicidae samples collected between 1993 and 1997 and in 2016. Flavivirus species were identified by sequencing. Sixteen (6.8%) samples tested positive: Ilheus virus, Iguape virus, and Saint Louis encephalitis virus were identified in historical specimens from 1993-1994, while insect-specific flaviviruses were detected in the samples from 2016. This approach was demonstrated to be accurate for flavivirus detection and characterization, and it can be successfully applied for vector surveillance and for monitoring and discovery of insect specific flaviviruses. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/21719-3 - Epidemiological study of dengue (serotypes1-4) in a cohort of São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, during 2014-2018
• Grantee: Maurício Lacerda Nogueira
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/23645-4 - Study of pathological alterations in situations of expert witness examination of animals
• Grantee: Paulo César Maiorka
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants