Molecular and clinical epidemiological surveillance of dengue virus in Paraíba, Northeast Brazil.
Despite being the most prevalent arboviral disease worldwide, dengue has been neglected lately. However, recent epidemics of arboviruses such as Zika and chikungunya in locations throughout the world have alerted health authorities to these diseases. This study evaluated the incidence pattern of dengue, its clinical characteristics, and co-circulation of serotypes from 2007 to 2015 in Paraiba State, Northeast Brazil.
Data on dengue cases from 2007 to 2015 were extracted from clinical reports of the National System for Notifiable Diseases [Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN)] of Brazil provided by the Paraiba Health Department. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays for dengue serotypes were carried out on plasma samples obtained from patients with suspected dengue. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics.
According to clinical features, dengue fever [n = 39,083 (70.2%)] and dengue without warning signs [n = 15,365 (27.7%)] were the most common classifications of dengue. On RT-PCR, DENV 1 was the most commonly identified serotype (80.5%) in all years studied. Co-circulation of all four DENV serotypes was observed in 2013 and 2014. Furthermore, we observed an increase in dengue notifications in 2015, possibly due to the rise of Zika and chikungunya.
Our findings support the hypothesis that co-circulation of the four DENV serotypes may be a reason for the increased prevalence of severe forms of dengue in the years studied. This study may contribute to directing research, health policy, and financial resources toward reducing poorly controlled epidemic diseases.
Laboratório de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.|Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.
Isabel Cristina
IC
Guerra-Gomes
Laboratório de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.
Bruna Macêdo
BM
Gois
Laboratório de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.
Rephany Fonseca
RF
Peixoto
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Camila Alves
CA
Oliveira
Departamento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Bruna Leal Lima
BL
Maciel
Secretaria de Estado da Saúde da Paraíba, PB, Brasil.
Maria Izabel Ferreira
MI
Sarmento
Secretaria de Estado da Saúde da Paraíba, PB, Brasil.
Anna Stella Cysneiros
AS
Pachá
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Josélio Maria Galvão
JM
Araújo
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.
Ian Porto Gurgel
IP
Amaral
Laboratório de Imunologia das Doenças Infecciosas, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.|Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brasil.|Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brasil.
Tatjana Souza Lima
TS
Keesen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003715:Dengue / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping; D055815:Young Adult