Vector Surveillance for Dengue Virus Detection in the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil

A study conducted in the Brazilian Atlantic Islands of Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas revealed that the minimum infection rate (MIR) for dengue virus (DENV) in mosquito samples was significantly higher when using the NS1-Ag detection method, with an MIR of 9.18 when considering all pools and 17.54 for pools with RNA integrity. This suggests that NS1-Ag detection is the most sensitive method for DENV surveillance in mosquitoes, especially where serotype identification is not required. The research, conducted between 2011 and 2012, also highlighted the importance of constant entomological surveillance in the region due to the continuous threat of dengue or other arbovirus epidemics. The study emphasized the need for improved storage and transportation protocols for mosquito samples and the inclusion of endogenous controls in RT-PCR to avoid false-negative results.

Barbosa, P. P., Guedes, D. R. D., Melo-Santos, M. A. V., Cordeiro, M. T., Acioli, R. V., Batista, C. A. V., Gonçalves, L. S. M., Souza, M. F. M., Araújo, Y. V., Magalhães, F. J. R., Regis, L., & Ayres, C. F. J. (2016). Vector Surveillance for Dengue Virus Detection in the Archipelago of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Journal of Medical Entomology, 53(3), 613–619. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjw034