Abstract
Although the ESwab kit (Copan, Brescia, Italy) is intended for sampling bacteria for culture, this kit is increasingly also used for virus sampling. The effect of ESwab medium on influenza virus detection by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or virus propagation in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cell culture was investigated. The ESwab medium was suitable for viral RNA detection but not for viral propagation due to cytotoxicity. Sampling influenza viruses with ESwab challenges influenza surveillance by strongly limiting the possibility of antigenic characterisation.
Highlights
Viral culture is a prerequisite for the surveillance of antigenic drift of influenza viruses as well as phenotypic antiviral resistance [1,2]
At the National Influenza Center (NIC) in Denmark, we have experienced challenges during the recent 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons with culture of influenza virus in clinical samples submitted from regional hospitals
Atypical cytopathogenic effect (CPE)/cytotoxicity in cell cultures appear for clinical materials which have been sampled using the ESwab sampling kit (ESwab, Copan, Brescia, Italy)
Summary
Viral culture is a prerequisite for the surveillance of antigenic drift of influenza viruses as well as phenotypic antiviral resistance [1,2]. Antigenic drift of influenza virus can result in severe epidemics and vaccine failure, with consequences for especially the risk groups who are recommended the seasonal influenza vaccine [3]. At the National Influenza Center (NIC) in Denmark, we have experienced challenges during the recent 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons with culture of influenza virus in clinical samples submitted from regional hospitals. The medium included in the sampling kit is modified Amies medium intended for bacterial culture and is not recommended for virus isolation by the manufacturer [4,5,6]
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Schedule a callMore From: Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin
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