Dengue in Latin America: Systematic Review of Molecular Epidemiological Trends

Abstract

Dengue, the predominant arthropod-borne viral disease affecting humans, is caused by one of four distinct serotypes (DENV-1, -2, -3 or -4). A literature analysis and review was undertaken to describe the molecular epidemiological trends in dengue disease and the knowledge generated in specific molecular topics in Latin America, including the Caribbean islands, from 2000 to 2013 in the context of regional trends in order to identify gaps in molecular epidemiological knowledge and future research needs. Searches of literature published between 1 January 2000 and 30 November 2013 were conducted using specific search strategies for each electronic database that was reviewed. A total of 396 relevant citations were identified, 57 of which fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All four dengue virus serotypes were present and co-circulated in many countries over the review period (with the predominance of individual serotypes varying by country and year). The number of countries in which more than one serotype circulated steadily increased during the period under review. Molecular epidemiology data were found for Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, the Caribbean region, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Central America, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela. Distinct lineages with different dynamics were found in each country, with co-existence, extinction and replacement of lineages occurring over the review period. Despite some gaps in the literature limiting the possibility for comparison, our review has described the molecular epidemiological trends of dengue infection. However, several gaps in molecular epidemiological information across Latin America and the Caribbean were identified that provide avenues for future research; in particular, sequence determination of the dengue virus genome is important for more precise phylogenetic classification and correlation with clinical outcome and disease severity.

Spatio‐temporal distribution of vertically transmitted dengue viruses by Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Arroyo Naranjo, Havana, Cuba

“…The DENV sequences obtained from Ae. aegypti pools allowed us to establish a confirmatory diagnosis of DENV-1, DENV-3 and DENV-4 serotype and genotypes (all of them circulating since those years in the Latin American region) [37][38][39]. Notably, the same genotypes were previously identified in virus isolates obtained from Cuban patients 2010-2014 [40].…”

Evaluating the use of fluorescence-based flow cytometry assay for dengue diagnosis using peripheral blood mononuclear cells

“…These viruses are enveloped positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses that encode three structural proteins and seven non-structural proteins 2 . Based on the neutralization assay, DENVs are classified into four serotypes (DENV-1 to 4), and are transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes 1,3 . Currently, DENV is the most important arthropod-borne viral disease worldwide, with an estimated 50 million infections occurring each year, which may be asymptomatic as in the majority of cases or may result in severe hemorrhagic fevers 4 .…”

Aumento da carga de dengue no Brasil e unidades federadas, 2000 e 2015: análise do Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

“…Within the last decades, the country has experienced four major epidemics, associated with the predominant viral serotype: DENV-1, DENV-3, DENV-2, and DENV -4, in 1998, 2002, 2008, and 2010, respectively 8 . In the past few years, dengue epidemics were caused by the circulation of more than one serotype [9][10][11] . In 2015, 1,649,008 cases of dengue were reported in the country.…”