Non-Invasive versus Invasive Samples for Zika Virus Surveillance: A Comparative Study in New Caledonia and French Guiana in 2015–2016

Abstract

Zika virus, an arbovirus responsible for major outbreaks, can cause serious health issues, such as neurological diseases. In the present study, different types of samples (serum, saliva, and urine), collected in 2015–2016 in New Caledonia and French Guiana from 53 patients presenting symptoms and clinical signs triggered by arbovirus infections, were analyzed using a recently developed, and in-house validated, 4-plex RT-qPCR TaqMan method for simultaneous detection and discrimination of the Zika and Chikungunya viruses. Subsequently, statistical analyses were performed in order to potentially establish recommendations regarding the choice of samples type to use for an efficient and early stage Zika infection diagnosis. On this basis, the use of only urine samples presented the highest probability to detect viral RNA from Zika virus. Moreover, such a probability was improved using both urine and saliva samples. Consequently, the added value of non-invasive samples, associated with a higher acceptance level for collection among patients, instead of serum samples, for the detection of Zika infections was illustrated.

Arboviruses in Mammals in the Neotropics: A Systematic Review to Strengthen Epidemiological Monitoring Strategies and Conservation Medicine

“…The use of non-invasive samples is an opportunity that could facilitate the diagnosis and detection of arboviruses in animals using urine and saliva samples [ 201 , 202 , 203 ]. Detection using fecal samples is another cost-effective and non-invasive option to monitor wild populations that could be potential reservoirs of arboviruses [ 204 ].…”

Molecular Detection of Orthohantavirus puumalaense in Plasma and Urine Samples from Hospitalized Patients Presenting with a Serologically Confirmed Acute Hantavirus Infection in France

“…However, our results obtained in tens of patients indicated that urine is not a suitable sample for the molecular diagnosis of PUUV infection in hospitalized patients sampled within the first 2 weeks after onset. Surprisingly, detection of measles virus and some arbovirus RNA in urine has been shown useful, since better results were obtained in this noninvasive sample than in plasma in the late course of the disease, although these viruses are not well-known for their renal damage ( 27 – 31 ). The pathological mechanism leading to the presence or the absence of the RNA from all these viruses, including hantaviruses, remains to be elucidated.…”