title: Dengue in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, 2010-2012.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present results of virological surveillance and epidemiological aspects of dengue in the State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1581 cases, reported from 2010 to 2012 at various health centres in the state, were analysed by viral isolation and/or RT-PCR for viral detection and typing. To identify whether different genotypes were circulating in the state during this period, sequencing of the complete E gene for DENV (1485 bp in length) was performed directly from patient serum samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four serotypes of dengue virus circulated in Rio Grande do Norte, with the introduction of DENV-4 in the state in 2011. In 2012, DENV-4 represented 100% of positive confirmed cases. 53.97% of cases occurred in Natal. Case numbers peaked in April (21%) and May (23%). Genetic characterisation of circulating strains confirmed the circulation of genotypes V, south-east Asian/American and II, respectively, for DENV-1, DENV-2 and DENV-4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This work furthers a better understanding of dengue viruses in the State of Rio Grande do Norte. Strengthening control efforts in the region is important considering the impact of dengue.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.|Laboratory of Flavivirus, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mário S D
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise M C
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Daíse M C
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joelma D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego M P
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renato F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Almeida Junior
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tábata L C
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Kleber J S
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Central Doutor Almino Fernandes, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ralfo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Medeiros
authors.affiliation: Laboratório Central Doutor Almino Fernandes, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Goretti L
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology and Experimental Therapy, Aggeu Magalhães Research Center, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: Laura H V G
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: José V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Flavivirus, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita M R
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Nogueira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases and Cancer, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josélio M G
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Araújo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D058872:Epidemics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dengue; Epidemiology; Rio Grande do Norte; Virological Surveillance