title: Molecular epidemiological analysis of dengue fever in Bolivia from 1998 to 2008.
abstract: Dengue fever was first recognized in Bolivia in 1931. However, very limited information was available to date regarding the genetic characterization and epidemiology of Bolivian dengue virus strains. Here, we performed genetic characterization of the full-length envelope gene of 64 Bolivian isolates from 1998 to 2008 and investigated their origin and evolution to determine whether strains circulated simultaneously or alternatively, and whether or not multiple introductions of distinct viral variants had occurred during the period studied. We determined that, during the last decade, closely related viruses circulated during several consecutive years (5, 6, and 6 years for DENV-1, DENV-2, and DENV-3, respectively) and the co-circulation of two or even three serotypes was observed. Emergence of new variants (distinct from those identified during the previous episodes) was identified in the case of DENV-1 (2007 outbreak) and DENV-2 (2001 outbreak). In all cases, it is likely that the viruses originated from neighboring countries.
authors.affiliation: Centro National de Enfermedades Tropicales, Santa-Cruz, Bolivia.
authors.forename: Yelin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Roca
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Baronti
authors.forename: Roberto Jimmy
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Revollo
authors.forename: Shelley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loayza
authors.forename: Laetitia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ninove
authors.forename: Roberto Torrez
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Jorge Vargas
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Herve
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: de Lamballerie
mesh_terms: D001838:Bolivia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D013997:Time Factors