Comparative studies were carried out on three mosquito cell lines (C6/36 clone of Aedes albopictus, AP-61 from A. pseudoscutellaris, and TRA-284 from Toxorhynchites amboinensis) to determine their sensitivity to dengue virus isolation, growth, and handling characteristics for immunofluorescent testing. Virus isolation rates from human sera were the highest in the TRA-284-SF (a line adapted to serum-free medium), followed by the TRA-284 parental line and AP-61. Virus isolation was the lowest in the C6/36 line. All 3 cell lines were comparable in terms of ease of handling, but C6/36 cells were preferable for detecting infected cells by the direct fluorescent antibody test (DFAT) because of frequent cell clumping in the AP-61 and TRA-284 lines. Early detection of viral antigen of all 4 serotypes in the infected cells by DFAT was dependent upon the virus titre in the serum. The AP-61 and TRA-284-SF cells were the best for early detection and identification of viral antigen. Similarly, both AP-61 and TRA-284 cells were more resistant than C6/36 cells to toxic effects of human sera. Based on the economy of using the serum-free medium, their higher sensitivity for dengue virus isolation, and their ease of handling, it is recommended that the TRA-284-SF cell line be used for routine dengue virus isolation in laboratories with cell culture capability.
