The laboratory role in diagnosis of infections transmitted by arthropods

This article provides an overview of arbovirus diseases from the perspective of laboratory diagnosis and related responsibilities of health personnel. Although the disease manifestations are very diverse, general lessons relevant to optimal use of laboratory resources can be drawn from medically important examples. This approach is warranted, because under conditions of bioterrorism or emergence of a novel pathogen, ecologic clues that ordinarily facilitate identification of an arbovirus infection most likely will be absent.