Simona Tchakarova, a veterinary doctor of National Diagnostic and Research Veterinary Institute of Bulgaria, was at the Institute from Wednesday 1st to Friday 12th June 2009 for a Study visit within the international collaboration activities carried out by the Istituto G. Caporale.

On her two-week stay, doctor Tchakarova attended the Institute laboratories, in order to acquire deeper knowledge on the following subjects: Serological tests for detecting specific West Nile Disease antibodies in horses, birds and other animal species (IgG and IgM ELISA). Screening and confirmatory tests. Interpretation of the results.

Virological tests for detection WNDV antigen and nuclear acid products. Virus isolation and cultivation in a different test systems and cell cultures. Cultivation and keeping standard reference strains for research purposes. RT-PCR and real time RT-PCR tests, primers and probes for detection of WNDV in different test specimens and materials from dead birds, horses and other species of animals (Virology Laboratory).

Capture methods. Principal mosquitoes identification: adults and larve. Recognition of the most important Cullex spp (Entomology Unit).

Developing a surveillance program and choosing sentinel animals (COVEPI).