Computer literature searches on dengue

Many research workers, to save time, rely entirely on either on-line or off-line databases offered by an increasing number of information services. The characteristics of eight databases, including five on-line services, were analysed in the present study concerning the retrieval of information on dengue, the most important mosquito-borne viral disease of humans. Differences in the rate of retrieval among data-bases were apparent, depending on the main subject of publication as well as on the geographical location of the publisher. While rates of retrieval of references in molecular biology were generally satisfactory (mostly > 70%), those in clinical medicine and epidemiology were not (< 50%). The latter, as published in many dengue-endemic tropical countries, were found to be inadequately covered. For the global surveillance of dengue, which has increased in intensity and spread to many countries because of increased international travel, the development of a new database emphasizing tropical geographic medicine is highly desirable.