Identification of Dengue virus serotype and genotype: A comprehensive study from AIIMS Patna, Bihar

Dengue virus, a major global health concern, exhibits significant genetic diversity, leading to distinct serotypes and genotypes. Dengue is the second most common disease spread by mosquitoes that infect humans, after malaria. In recent decades, there has also been a shift in the tendencies of virus transmission from urban to peri-urban and rural settings. This research study focuses on the identification and characterization of dengue virus serotypes and genotypes.

In this study, specimens collected in one year were first subjected to serological assay (NS1 and IgM) and subsequently the NS1 positive samples were subjected to identification and characterization of the prevalent dengue virus serotypes and genotypes.

During the year 2021, a total of 933serum samples were tested, out of which 75 were found positive for NS1 antigen and 135 were positive for Dengue IgM antibody by ELISA. The dengue serotype specific Real-Time RT-PCR Assay detected all four serotypes in the NS1-positive samples, indicating their presence in this region. Of these, DEN-1 was detected in 4 (7.8 %), DEN-2 in 26 (50.9 %), DEN-3 in 20 (39 %), DEN-4 in 1 (1.9 %). Out of 51Real-Time RT-PCR positive samples, 33 were found positive by conventional PCR for genotyping by targeting the capsid-preMembrane (C-prM)region. The genotyping result showed that DENV-1 serotype clustering with GIII, DEN-2 serotype clustering withwide range of genotypes such as IVa, IVb, and IVc, DEN-3 clustering with GIII genotype and DEN-4 serotype showed GIII genotype.

This study provides the recent details about the circulating serotypes along with prevalent genotypes in this region.