Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 13, 2026

Detection of Infectious Virus from Field-collected Mosquitoes by Vero Cell Culture Assay
Published on: June 9, 2011
West Nile virus in Southern Portugal, 2004
Aida Esteves1, A Paulo G Almeida, Rui Pedro Galão
1Unidade de Virologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal. aidaesteves@ihmt.unl.pt
Abstract:
West Nile virus (WNV) genomic RNA was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in six out of 57 mosquito pools collected in Southern Portugal, during the summer of 2004, yielding an infection rate (IR) of 2.8/1,000 mosquitoes. Phylogenetic analysis of a 217-nucleotide fragment of the NS5 coding region, amplified from Culex pipiens s.l. and Culex univittatus unfed females, demonstrated a close relationship with WNV strains circulating in the Mediterranean basin (Italy, 1998; France, 2000; Morocco, 2003). The data in this short report demonstrate the presence of WNV in mosquitoes in Southern Portugal and the need of permanent surveillance for viral activity within the country.
Related Concept Videos
Arboviral Encephalitis
Yellow Fever
Encephalitis l: Introduction
Encephalitis ll: Pathophysiology
American Trypanosomiasis
Rabies

