Sensitivity of RT-PCR method in samples shown to be positive for Zika virus by RT-qPCR in vector competence studies

Abstract

Tissue samples from mosquitoes artificially infected with Zika virus and shown to be positive by RT-qPCR were reexamined by RT-PCR. Using these samples we compared the two methods employed in virus RNA detection for vector competence studies. Results demonstrated that, albeit useful, RT-PCR gave false negatives with low viral loads (< 10⁶ RNA copies/ml).

Keywords:
ZIKV; RT-PCR; Aedes aegypti; vector competence