SEROTYPES OF DENGUE VIRUSES CIRCULATING IN JAZAN REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

ALSHEIKH, ADEL A.; DAFFALLA, O. M.; NOURELDIN, E. M.; MOHAMMED, W. S.; SHRWANI, K. J.; HOBANI, Y. A.; ABKAR, A. D.; ALSHEIKH, F. A.; ASSIRI, A. M.

doi:10.21608/jesp.2017.77745

SEROTYPES OF DENGUE VIRUSES CIRCULATING IN JAZAN REGION, SAUDI ARABIA

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ National Center for Vector-Borne Diseases, MoH, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

² Department of Medical Parasitology, Saudi Arabia.

³ Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Gezira, Sudan, Faculty of Public Health, Jazan University, Saudi Arabia.

⁴ Minister Deputy Assistant for Preventive Health, MoH-Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

10.21608/jesp.2017.77745

Abstract

Dengue fever is considered to be the most important mosquito-borne disease and considered as endemic disease in Jazan region, Saudi Arabia. The present study aimed to analyze the prevailing dengue virus serotypes in the region. Serum samples of 220 suspected dengue cases were collected throughout 2016 and tested by one step Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) with a set of specific primers for detection of four DV serotypes followed by sequencing the PCR products to confirm the results. Out of the 220 serum samples, 124 were found positive for dengue infection (56.4%). Three dengue virus serotypes were detected; DEN- 1, DEN-2 and DEN-3. DEN-2 is the most common and predominant type in the region rating 83.9% (104/124), followed by DEN-1 8.9% (11/124), and then DEN-3 7.2% (9/124). The high seroprevalence of dengue virus infections in Jazan region indicates its endemicity. The present study highlights the importance of tracking the spread of dengue virus types and its implication for analyzing changes in dengue endemicity in specified areas over time.

Keywords