Molecular characterization of dengue viruses circulating during 2009-2012 in Uttar Pradesh, India

Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world; in India it has taken endemic proportion implicating all the four known dengue virus serotypes. Dengue infection is caused by a small, single stranded RNA virus comprising of four antigenically distinct virus serotypes designated as dengue virus type 1-4 (DENV-1-4). On the basis of genomic variations, each serotype is classified further into its genotypes. Epidemiological studies have shown that the emergence of a newer dengue serotype/genotype after an interval always leads to a major outbreak; therefore a continuous epidemiological surveillance is needed to monitor the epidemiology of dengue viruses. The present study was planned to identify the serotype/genotype of dengue viruses circulating in Uttar Pradesh, India. Of 433 dengue suspected patients, tested by reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR), 136 were positive for dengue virus RNA. Of these, DENV-1, 2, and 3 were detected in 26 (19.1%), 77 (56.6%), and 33 (24.3%) patients, respectively. Of 136 RT-PCR positive samples, 24 samples were sequenced to identify their genotypes. For sequencing C-prM gene junction of dengue virus genome was chosen. Phylogenetic analysis of sequenced dengue strains revealed that all the 12 DENV-1 strains were genotype III, all the eight DENV-2 strains were genotype IV (Cosmopolitan genotype) and among four DENV-3 strains, three were genotype III and one was genotype I. In conclusion, the co-circulation of multiple dengue virus serotypes and genotypes is alarming in U.P., India.