Abstract
BackgroundSince the first reported outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Pakistan, several mini outbreaks have erupted in the region. Dengue virus serotype 3 (DEN-3) was first documented in 2005 outbreak in Karachi. Reports show that serotype 3 is prevalent in Lahore since 2008. Serotype 2 (DEN-2) is the major circulating serotype in Pakistan as it is documented since 1994. We have conducted a detailed study of three outbreaks of dengue virus infection that occurred in years 2007, 2008 and 2009 in Lahore by using molecular techniques such as PCR and nucleotide sequencing of the C-prM gene junction of Dengue virus.ResultsThrough the analysis of 114 serum samples collected over the period of three years (2007-2009), total 20 patients were found to be infected with dengue virus. In year 2007, four were positive for serotype 2 and one sample was positive for serotype DEN-3. In 2008, five samples had concurrent infection with serotypes DEN-2 and DEN-3 while three samples were infected only with serotype DEN-2. In year 2009, one sample had concurrent infection with serotypes DEN-2 and DEN-3 while six were positive for serotype DEN-2 only.ConclusionsOur study showed that serotype DEN-2 was dominant in positive samples of dengue virus infection collected during the period of three years (2007-2009). The other serotype present was serotype DEN-3. Genotypes of serotype DEN-2 and serotype DEN-3 were subtype IV and subtype III, respectively.
Highlights
Since the first reported outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Pakistan, several mini outbreaks have erupted in the region
Trust Hospital Lahore and Sheikh Zayed Medical Complex Lahore for the current study. These samples were collected during three different mini outbreaks of dengue virus infection in years 2007, 2008 and 2009 and were stored at -20°C
Nested polymerase chain reactions (PCR) was utilized for this serotype analysis
Summary
Since the first reported outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Pakistan, several mini outbreaks have erupted in the region. As a member of the family Falviviridae, the dengue virus is transmitted to human via Aedes genus, especially Aedes agypti. This family includes Hepatitis C Virus, West Nile Virus and Yellow Fever Virus. Sequencing of dengue viral RNA has further verified strain variation within a serotype allowing viruses to be classified into genetically distinct groups within serotypes called genotypes. This transmitted more readily, thereby having a higher potential to cause large epidemic [12,13]
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