Comparison of three methods used to isolate dengue virus type 2

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Dengue virus outbreaks pose significant public health challenges.
• Effective virus isolation and identification are crucial for disease surveillance and control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of three different virus isolation methods during a dengue epidemic.
• To identify the dengue virus serotype responsible for the 1969 Puerto Rico epidemic.

Main Methods:

• Human sera and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes were collected during the 1969 dengue epidemic.
• Virus isolation was attempted using newborn mice, LLC-MK(2) cell cultures, and A. albopictus cell cultures.
• Virus identification was performed using plaque-reduction neutralization tests.

Main Results:

• All three isolation methods yielded comparable numbers of virus isolates.
• Distinct syncytial cytopathic effect (CPE) was observed in A. albopictus cell cultures, unlike LLC-MK(2) cultures.
• Isolates from both human sera and mosquitoes were identified as dengue type 2 virus.

Conclusions:

• The study demonstrated the utility of multiple virus isolation techniques for dengue surveillance.
• Aedes albopictus cell cultures showed promise for detecting dengue virus due to observable CPE.
• Effective virus isolation and identification are vital for managing dengue epidemics.