[Molecular and serological diagnosis of a dengue outbreak in Coro, Falcón state, Venezuela]

Invest Clin. 2003 Sep;44(3):219-26.
[Article in Spanish]

Abstract

Dengue virus (DV) is responsible for a spectrum of diseases, from a self-limited fever disease (DF, dengue fever) to the more severe forms of hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS). The aim of this study was the serological and molecular confirmation of an outbreak of dengue in Falcon state, Venezuela. A total of 54 sera from patients with clinical diagnosis of DV infection were analyzed by an enzyme immunoassays developed in Venezuela (ELISA -IgM e -IgG) and by PCR. From them, 78% exhibited DV infection (PCR+ y/o IgM+), 48% exhibited viremia by PCR and 57% were positive to IgM. An interesting observation was the high percent (76%) of patients with past or secondary infection (IgG positive), which included all the patients exhibiting clinical symptoms of DHF (n = 8). From the PCR positive sera, serotype 1 was found in 27%, serotype 2 in 54% and serotype 4 in 19%. No serotype 3 was found circulating in this population, although this serotype was already circulating in the nearby island of Aruba. The combination of serological and molecular methods allow us to obtain a fairly precise information of this outbreak.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dengue / blood
  • Dengue / diagnosis
  • Dengue / epidemiology*
  • Dengue Virus / classification
  • Dengue Virus / immunology
  • Dengue Virus / isolation & purification
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Serotyping
  • Venezuela / epidemiology
  • Viremia / blood
  • Viremia / diagnosis
  • Viremia / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M