Laboratory-based Dengue Surveillance in Taiwan, 2005: A Molecular Epidemiologic Study

Abstract

We present the results of laboratory-based dengue surveillance in Taiwan for 2005. A phylogenetic study showed that multiple dengue epidemics were caused by three different imported dengue virus (DENV) strains. A strain of DENV-3 (genotype I) imported from the Philippines first appeared in the southern part of Kaohsiung City and later spread to Kaohsiung County from August to December, which resulted in 77 cases of dengue. Another strain of DENV-3 (genotype II) imported from Vietnam first appeared in the central part of Kaohsiung City and later spread to Kaohsiung County from September to December, which resulted in 35 cases of dengue. A strain of DENV-2 (American/Asian genotype) imported from Vietnam first appeared in Tainan City and later spread to Kaohsiung City/County from October to December, which resulted in 60 cases of dengue. This study provides molecular epidemiologic evidence that most dengue in Taiwan is caused by imported strains of the virus.

Characteristics and Risk Factors for Fatality in Patients with Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, Taiwan, 2014

“…DENV infections were confirmed by laboratory diagnosis based on 1) positive DENV RNA, determined by reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); 2) positive DENV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antigen; and 3) at least a 4-fold increase in DENV-specific IgM or IgG antibodies, where crossreactions to Japanese encephalitis virus had been excluded. 10 To detect and differentiate DENV serotypes, we performed one-step, SYBR Green I-based, real-time RT-PCR (QuantiTect SYBR Green RT-PCR kit; Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) using DENV serotype-specific primer sets in the Mx3000P quantitative PCR system (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA). 11 A commercial DENV NS1 Ag strip rapid test kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Marnes La Coquette, France) and a SD Dengue NS1 Ag test (Standard Diagnostics, Inc., Kyonggi-do, Korea) were used to detect DENV NS1 antigen.…”

Laboratory-Based Surveillance and Molecular Characterization of Dengue Viruses in Taiwan, 2014

“…Most of the epidemic strains were introduced from neighboring Asia-Pacific countries through air travel. [13][14][15][16] To reduce the introduction of DENV strains into Taiwan and prevent local outbreaks, both passive (hospital-based reporting systems) and active surveillance systems (such as fever screening at airports and seaports, self-reports, and expanded screening for contacts of confirmed cases) have been implemented by central and local health departments. Samples of suspected dengue cases were submitted for laboratory diagnosis and confirmation.…”

Recent distribution of vector mosquitoes and epidemiology of the diseases they transmitted in Taiwan

“…The JapanSociety (Juliano, 1998;Barrera, 1996;Ho et al,, 1989;Black et (Chang et al,, 2007;Yeh et al,, 1994 …”