Low frequency of asymptomatic dengue virus-infected donors in blood donor centers during the largest dengue outbreak in Taiwan.

Jih-Jin Tsai,Ying-Hui Wang,Li-Teh Liu,Ching-Yi Tsai,Ping-Chang Lin,Dong-Yan Jin

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0205248

Abstract

To determine the prevalence of asymptomatic dengue virus-infected blood donors during the largest dengue outbreak in Taiwan history occurred in 2015, we examined the evidence of dengue virus (DENV) infection by the detection of DENV RNA genome using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR), DENV NS1 antigen using rapid diagnosis test (RDT) and anti-dengue antibody using IgM/IgG capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (capture ELISA) and RDT in eight thousand serum samples from blood donations to the blood centers of the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation (TBSF) in Kaohsiung City and Tainan City during the largest dengue outbreak in Taiwan history occurred in 2015. Only one serum sample was positive for DENV RNA detection by using dengue-specific real-time RT-PCR, the virus was DENV-2 determined by serotype-specific real-time RT-PCR and sequencing, and the DENVs in the serum were confirmed as being infectious by a plaque assay. The recipient of this blood did not develop any dengue fever symptom on follow-up. None of the samples was NS1 RDT-reactive. Seventeen IgM-positive samples were identified. There was a low prevalence of asymptomatic confirmed or probable DENV-infected blood donors in our study (0.013% and 0.21%, respectively), and no symptomatic transfusion-transmitted dengue (TT dengue) was developed during the largest dengue outbreak in Taiwan history in highly endemic areas and periods.

Highlights

Dengue is an arthropod-borne viral disease, which produces a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and outcomes, mainly occurs in tropical and subtropical areas
The information available from the Taiwan Blood Services Foundation (TBSF) about the blood donors in this study was shown in Table 1; all donors met the criteria for blood donation suggested by the TBSF at the time they donated blood
We performed dengue-specific real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using Brilliant II SYBR Green QRT-PCR Low ROX Master Mix system to detect the presence of dengue virus (DENV) RNA genome in eight hundred pooled serum samples

Summary

Introduction

Dengue is an arthropod-borne viral disease, which produces a wide spectrum of clinical symptoms and outcomes, mainly occurs in tropical and subtropical areas. This disease develops following infection by the dengue virus (DENV), which is an RNA virus with an approximately 11-kilobases positive-sense RNA genome. Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans by the bites of DENV-carrying mosquitoes, especially Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus. DENV infections result in asymptomatic infections, undifferentiated fevers, dengue fever (DF), dengue. Low frequency of asymptomatic dengue virus-infected blood donors during the largest dengue outbreak in Taiwan role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion