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Investigation of the utility of the Simport‐Matrix Chaperones for Avian Influenza Virus sample storage and transportation
Author(s) -
Echevarria Martha,
Ferro Pamela,
Vuong Christine,
Metz Katy,
Hogan Mike,
Lupiani Blanca
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.874.17
Subject(s) - influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , matrix (chemical analysis) , cold chain , virus , biology , influenza a virus , sample (material) , virology , chemistry , food science , chromatography
Due to the transmission of avian influenza virus (AIV) H5N1 from birds to humans, an increase in surveillance studies (SS) occurred. SS are important for discovering potential reservoirs or sources of new strains of AIV that could be a threat to human and animal health. SS depend on sample handling and maintenance of samples at low temperature. Sampling strategies for AIV consists of collecting oropharyngeal, tracheal, or cloacal swabs and placing them in viral transport media maintaining them on ice in the field and during shipping. We evaluate a sample collection system in which maintenance of the cold‐chain is not critical to the preservation of sample in the field during sample collection and transport. We hypothesized that the Simport Matrix‐Chaperone (SMC) system is useful for the storage and transportation of AIV samples. A H5N3 AIV was tested using 3 different matrices: MicroCrystals (MC), MicroSpheres (MS), and Elastomer. Samples reached complete dehydration after 24 h of storage at room temperature. After 3 d of room temperature storage, the samples were retrieved from the matrices and tested for viability of the virus by virus isolation and presence of AIV matrix gene by real‐time RT‐PCR. The AIV matrix gene was detected in all 3 matrices and was isolated from the MS and MC. The SMC system could provide a simple system for collection and transport of samples by reducing the need for maintenance of the cold chain.