Maddison MD, Li Z, Miley KM, Poole CB, Carlow CKS, Unnasch TR. Development and Validation of a Colorimetric Reverse Transcriptase Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Detection of Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus in Mosquitoes.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION 2022;
38:7-18. [PMID:
35276729 DOI:
10.2987/21-7047]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) is a highly pathogenic alphavirus that causes periodic outbreaks in the eastern USA. Mosquito abatement programs are faced with various challenges with surveillance and control of EEEV and other mosquito-borne illnesses. Environmental sampling of mosquito populations can be technically complex. Here we report the identification of biomarkers, development and validation of a colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay for the detection of EEEV. Positive samples are easily visualized by a color change from pink to yellow. The assay was validated using EEEV from viral culture, experimentally spiked mosquito pools, and previously tested mosquito pools. The RT-LAMP assay detected viral titers down to approximately 10% of what would be present in a single infectious mosquito, based upon EEEV viral titers determined by previous competency studies. The RT-LAMP assay efficiently detected EEEV in combined aliquots from previously homogenized pools of mosquitoes, allowing up to 250 individual mosquitoes to be tested in a single reaction. No false positive results were obtained from RNA prepared from negative mosquito pools acquired from known and potential EEEV vectors. The colorimetric RT-LAMP assay is highly accurate, technically simple, and does not require sophisticated equipment, making it a cost-effective alternative to real time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for vector surveillance.
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