Circulating Genotypes of Dengue-1 Virus in South West India, 2014-2015

Dengue is the most prevalent arboviral disease affecting humans, with tropical and subtropical regions having the highest risk of dengue virus infections. The clinical symptoms often range from mild fever to fever with hemorrhagic manifestations and shock. Since 2010, India has been witnessing a marked increase in the number of dengue virus serotype 1 (DENV-1) infections, apart from those of serotypes 2 (DENV-2) and 3 (DENV-3). The present study was undertaken to understand the circulating genotypes of DENV-1 in South West India, by sequencing the envelope gene of DENV-1 samples representative of the 2014-2015 time period. The extracted RNAs from dengue NS1 antigen ELISA-positive samples, archived at the APEX Referral Laboratory for Arboviruses (National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, Manipal Centre for Virus Research), were used for the study. The currently circulating genotypes of DENV-1 identified from the study area belong to genotypes V and I. Multicentric laboratory-based studies analyzing the envelope gene of all dengue serotypes are required from endemic countries like India.