Molecular Characterization of Imported and Autochthonous Dengue in Northeastern Spain

• Published in: Viruses Vol. 13; no. 10; p. 1910
• Main Authors: Navero-Castillejos, Jessica, Benitez, Rosa, Torner, Nuria, Muñoz, José, Camprubí-Ferrer, Daniel, Peiró-Mestres, Aida, Sulleiro, Elena, Silgado, Aroa, Gonzalo, Verónica, Falgueras, Teresa, Alejo-Cancho, Izaskun, Roldán, Montserrat, Plasencia, Virginia, Albarracin, Rosa, Perez, Josefa, Navarro, Alexander, Calderón, Ana, Rubio, Rosa, Navarro, Mireia, Micó, Miguel, Llaberia, Jaume, Navarro, María, Barrachina, Josep, Vilamala, Anna, Martí, Carmina, Pulido, María Ángeles, Sanchez-Seco, María Paz, Vazquez, Ana, Martínez, Ana, Jané, Mireia, Martínez, Miguel Julián
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 23-09-2021; MDPI
• Subjects: Adult; Aedes - virology; Aged; Animals; autochthonous transmission; Communicable Diseases, Imported; Control programs; dengue; Dengue - diagnosis; Dengue - epidemiology; Dengue - transmission; Dengue - virology; Dengue fever; Dengue Virus - classification; Dengue Virus - genetics; Dengue Virus - isolation & purification; Epidemiology; Europe - epidemiology; Female; Genomes; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Genotypes; Health surveillance; Humans; Importation; Infections; Male; Middle Aged; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Molecular Epidemiology; Phylogeny; Polymerase chain reaction; Process controls; Public Health; Serotypes; Spain - epidemiology; Strains (organisms); surveillance; Vectors; Viruses; Young Adult; Europe; Spain; Sri Lanka; Philippines; Africa; Malaysia; Thailand; Southeast Asia; Vietnam; Indian subcontinent; China; Australia; France; Tahiti; Germany; Indonesia; molecular epidemiology; surveillance; dengue; autochthonous transmission
• ISSN: 1999-4915; 1999-4915
• DOI: 10.3390/v13101910

Dengue is the most significant arbovirus worldwide and a public health threat to non-endemic areas in which
vectors are present. Autochthonous dengue transmission has been reported in several European countries in the last decade. Infected travelers from endemic regions arriving to areas colonized by
in Europe need to be monitored in surveillance and control programs. We aimed to perform molecular characterization of RT-PCR-positive dengue cases detected in Catalonia, northeastern Spain, from 2013 to 2018. The basic demographic information and the geographical regions of importation were also analyzed. One-hundred four dengue cases were studied (103 imported infections and the first autochthonous case in our region). The dengue virus strains detected were serotyped and genotyped using molecular methods, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted. All four dengue serotypes were detected in travelers, including up to 10 different genotypes, reflecting the global circulation of dengue in endemic areas. The primary travel-related case of the 2018 autochthonous transmission was not identified, but the molecular analysis revealed dengue serotype 1, genotype I of Asian origin. Our results highlight the diversity of imported dengue virus strains and the role of molecular epidemiology in supporting arbovirus surveillance programs.