Analyzing mosquitoes for West Nile

07-31-2012, 02:50 AM

I recently saw a report on the evening news that said the county will spray to kill mosquitoes in specific areas if they find a mosquito infected with West Nile Virus in that area. The report showed mosquito traps and a technician using a microscope. I would like to know how could one tell if the mosquito is infected by viewing it under a microscope?

07-31-2012, 05:03 AM

The evening news uses stock images that often are only vaguely related to the story.

08-01-2012, 12:45 PM

Okay - I don’t doubt what you said at all. Still, the question remains so let me state it another way. I have a bunch of mosquitoes that I collected out in the field. I think I’m capable of separating them into different species. How do I tell which ones carry the West Nile Virus?

08-01-2012, 02:32 PM

You need a DNA analysis kit (PCR). It can't be done by just looking at the mosquitoes, with the naked eye or with a microscope.

Luckily, about 80% of people who get West Nile have no symptoms at all, and less than 1% become seriously ill.

08-02-2012, 06:40 PM

I appreciate your reply - that makes a lot of sense. This will probably seem like a silly question but I am new at this... could you recommend one or two DNA analysis kits that would enable me to do this work?

08-02-2012, 06:42 PM

The CDC has West Nile test kits, but I'm not sure if they are selling to private citizens. Also, you might need other equipment to make it work, and it's not exactly "plug and play," PCR requires some technical expertise.

Analyzing mosquitoes for West Nile

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