Open AccessRapid genotyping protocol to improve dengue virus serotype 2 survey in Lao PDR
Author(s) -
Elodie Calvez,
Somphavanh Somlor,
Souksakhone Viengphouthong,
Charlotte Balière,
Phaithong Bounmany,
Sitsana Keosenhom,
Valérie Caro,
Marc Grandadam
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0237384
Subject(s) - dengue virus , dengue fever , serotype , genotyping , virology , genotype , biology , molecular epidemiology , dengue vaccine , public health , medicine , genetics , gene , nursing
Dengue fever is one of the major public health problems in Lao PDR. Over the last decade, dengue virus (DENV) epidemics were characterized by a novel predominant serotype accompanied by at least two other serotypes. Since 2008, DENV-2 circulated at a low level in Lao PDR but its epidemiologic profile changed at the end of 2018. Indeed, the number of confirmed DENV-2 cases suddenly increased in October 2018 and DENV-2 became predominant at the country level in early 2019. We developed a Genotype Screening Protocol (GSP) to determine the origin(s) of the Lao DENV-2 and study their genetic polymorphism. With a good correlation with full envelope gene sequencing data, this molecular epidemiology tool evidence the co-circulation of two highly polymorphic DENV-2 genotypes, i.e. Asian I and Cosmopolitan genotypes, over the last five years, suggesting multiple introductions of DENV-2 in the country. GSP approach provides relevant first line information that may help countries with limited laboratory resources to reinforce their capabilities to DENV-2 and to follow the epidemics progresses and assess situations at the regional level.