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Published on: May 31, 2020
Concurrent Dengue and malaria in the Amazon region.
Vinícius Dos Santos Santana1, Lígia Carolina Lavezzo, Adriano Mondini
1Laboratory of Virology, São José do Rio Preto Medical School, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil.
Revista Da Sociedade Brasileira De Medicina Tropical
|November 19, 2010
Summary
Dengue virus serotype 2 and malaria co-infection was detected in two patients in the Amazon region. This highlights the potential for frequent, concurrent diagnoses of these arboviral and parasitic diseases.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Tropical Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The Amazon region's ecosystems harbor numerous arboviruses, with 40 linked to human disease in Brazil, including Dengue, Oropouche, Mayaro, and Yellow Fever.
- Malaria cases are highly concentrated in Brazil's Legal Amazon region, accounting for approximately 98% of national cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of arboviruses in clinical serum samples from four distinct locations in the Amazon region.
- To identify potential co-infections between arboviruses and other prevalent infectious diseases in the area.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 111 clinical serum samples from patients in Novo Repartimento (Pará), Plácido de Castro (Acre), Porto Velho (Rondônia), and Oiapoque (Amapá).
- RNA extraction followed by RT-PCR and Multiplex-Nested-PCR using generic and species-specific primers for Flavivirus, Alphavirus, and Orthobunyavirus.
Main Results:
- Dengue virus serotype 2 was identified in two patients from Novo Repartimento, Pará.
- These two patients also exhibited active Plasmodium vivax (malaria) infection.
Conclusions:
- The co-occurrence of Dengue virus and malaria is likely more common in the Amazon than currently detected.
- Similar clinical presentations necessitate considering concomitant diagnosis of dengue and malaria in endemic areas or during outbreaks.
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