Laboratory and molecular characterization of dengue virus during the 2014 outbreak in Guangfo region, Southern China.

This study aimed to 1) identify laboratory markers which can predict a positive laboratory diagnosis, and 2) perform a molecular characterization of DENV from the 2014 Guangdong epidemic. This retrospective study enrolled 1044 patients from the Guangdong epidemic who had clinically suspected dengue. Viral RNA was detected by real-time RT-PCR and viral-specific NS1 antigen was detected using ELISA. Molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed with the C-prM gene junction of the viral genome. Patients with dengue infection had leukopenia (2.8×10(9)/L), thrombocytopenia (109.0×10(9)/L), elevated AST (56.0 U/L) and ALT (43.5 U/L), and prolonged APTT (33.5 secs) (all P < 0.001) compared to patients without dengue. The positive predictive value (PPV) of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia were 96.9% and 93.0%, respectively. Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated aminotransferases, and prolonged APTT were useful predictive markers for early diagnosis of dengue infection. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the DENVs from the 2014 epidemic were closely related to the 2010 New Delhi strain and 2013 Guangzhou strain. The 2014 epidemic had co-circulating DENV-1 genotypes I and V with multiple origins. Efficient dengue surveillance can facilitate rapid response to future outbreaks. PMID: 28367875 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Jpn J Infect Dis Source Type: research