Temperature sensitivity and environmental stability of Chandipura virus

Chandipura virus (CHPV), a negative-stranded RNA virus of family Rhabdoviridae is endemic in Central India since 1965. The virus gained public health importance when it was held responsible for massive outbreak in 2003-2004 in Maharashtra, Telengana and Gujarat with case fatality rates ranging from 55 to 75% among children. We studied the stability of the virus as well as RNA persistence in samples stored at different temperatures for different periods. CHPV remained infective in sand flies and cell culture supernatants at 4 °C for 8 weeks. At 37 °C CHPV remained viable for 18 days when stored in infected cell supernatant (Minimum essential medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum). However, in infected sand flies stored at 37 °C, the virus lost virulence within a week. CHPV RNA, though lost virulence, could be detected in virus exposed sand flies stored at 37 °C for 13 weeks by real time RT-PCR. Retaining virulence at 37 °C for 18 days in serum containing medium is a matter of concern for laboratories and hospital settings where clinical samples are handled. RNA persistence for prolonged periods in dead sand flies might help in surveillance studies of CHPV in sand flies and will help in resource constraint nations where cold chain management is a concern.