Circulation of genotypes of dengue virus serotype 2 in Guangzhou over a period of 20 years

Liyun Jiang; Yuan Liu; Wenzhe Su; Yimin Cao; Qinlong Jing; Xinwei Wu; Zhicong Yang

doi:10.1186/s12985-022-01773-7

Circulation of genotypes of dengue virus serotype 2 in Guangzhou over a period of 20 years

Virol J. 2022 Mar 18;19(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s12985-022-01773-7.

Authors

Liyun Jiang^#¹, Yuan Liu^#², Wenzhe Su³, Yimin Cao³, Qinlong Jing⁴, Xinwei Wu⁵, Zhicong Yang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Virology Department, Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Baiyunqu Qidelu 1, Guangdong, 510440, China. year800325@163.com.
² Pestcide and Disinfection Department, Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Baiyunqu Qidelu 1, Guangdong, 510440, China.
³ Virology Department, Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Baiyunqu Qidelu 1, Guangdong, 510440, China.
⁴ Epidemiology Department, Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Baiyunqu Qidelu 1, Guangdong, 510440, China.
⁵ Microbiology Department, Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Baiyunqu Qidelu 1, Guangdong, 510440, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: The dengue epidemic in Guangzhou has imposed a rising burden on society and health infrastructure. Here, we present the genotype data for dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) to improve understanding of this dengue epidemic.

Methods: We sequenced the envelope gene of DENV-2 obtained from patient serum samples and subsequently performed maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis using PhyMLv3.1, maximum clade credibility analysis using BEAST v.1.10.4, and selection pressure analysis using Datamonkey 2.0.

Results: The prevalent DENV-2 strains identified in Guangzhou region are related to those in Southeast Asian countries. In particular, the Malaysia/Indian subcontinent genotype is prevailing in Guangzhou with no apparent genotype shift having occurred over the past 20 years. However, episodic positive selection was detected at one site.

Conclusions: Local control of the DENV-2 epidemic in Guangzhou requires effective measures to prevent and monitor imported cases. Moreover, the shift between the Malaysia/Indian subcontinent genotype lineages, which originated at different time points, may account for the rise in DENV-2 cases in Guangzhou. Meanwhile, the low rate of dengue haemorrhagic fever in Guangzhou may be explained by the dominance of the less virulent Malaysia/Indian subcontinent genotype.

Keywords: Dengue virus serotype 2; Epidemiology; Molecular evolution; Phylogeny.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Dengue Virus* / genetics
Dengue* / epidemiology
Genotype
Humans
Molecular Epidemiology
Phylogeny
Serogroup