Application of reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction for detection of rift valley fever viral antigen from mosquito

ABSTRACT

A reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction [RT-PCR] was applied to detect rift valley fever virus [RVFV] in Culex pipiens mosquito pools collected from Alexandria and Behira governorates of Egypt [50 pools each]. All mosquito pools were subjected to double sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] technique to detect RVF viral antigen. Out of all 100 mosquito pools, only 18 were positive by ELISA, 10 out of 50 pools were positive in Behira Governorate and 8 were positive in Alexandria Governorate. All positive samples [18], in addition to two negative samples [one was used as a negative control and the other was used as a positive control after the addition of 1.0 ml of 103 inactivated RVF virus] were subjected to RT-PCR. Out of these 18 positive samples by ELISA, only 7 were positive for RVF Virus by RT-PCR. These results gave the possibilities of the existence of other phleboviruses that cross react with RVF virus