Laboratory test for 18 imported Zika cases in China / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To provide scientific evidences for Zika virus detection by clarifying the means by which Zika virus was discharged and the duration of corresponding processes. Methods Various samples of Zika cases were collected at different times and detected by using real-time RT-PCR. The positive samples were inoculated into cells and suckling mice through intracranial injection. The whole genome se-quences of those isolated Zika virus strain were sequenced and the results were further analyzed by comparing with the sequences of Zika virus from GenBank. Results The positive rates of Zika virus in urine, saliva and serum samples were 82. 4% (14/17), 82. 4% (14/17) and 52. 9% (9/17) respectively. The longest period of detected presence of Zika virus was found in urine samples amongst the three types of samples, fol-lowed by saliva and serum samples. Six Zika virus strains were isolated from 9 positive serum samples. Phy-logenetic analysis showed that the six genomes of Zika virus all belonged to Asia lineage, but located in two branches by Samoa and Venezuela strains. Conclusion This study indicated that urine, saliva and serum all could be used as the samples for routine detection of Zika virus. Urine and saliva samples showed higher detection rates of Zika virus RNA in comparison to serum samples, while Zika virus could be easily isolated from positive serum samples. Suckling mice were better for Zika virus isolation than cell lines.