Displaying publications 41 - 60 of 80 in total

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  1. Cardosa MJ, Tio PH, Nimmannitya S, Nisalak A, Innis B
    PMID: 1298081
    The highly sensitive AFRIMS format IgM capture ELISA for the diagnosis of dengue virus infections requires the use of mouse brain derived hemagglutinins and consequently also the use of 20% acetone extracted normal human serum to eliminate high background. These reagents are not always easily available and we have thus compared the AFRIMS format with another published format which uses cell culture derived antigens (culture fluid, CF, format) in order to determine if it is reasonable to use cell culture derived antigens in situations where hemagglutinins and normal human serum are difficult to obtain. The study shows that using AFRIMS results as the reference point, the CF format described here has a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 96%.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology
  2. Darwish NT, Sekaran SD, Alias Y, Khor SM
    J Pharm Biomed Anal, 2018 Feb 05;149:591-602.
    PMID: 29197806 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2017.11.064
    The sharp increase in incidence of dengue infection has necessitated the development of methods for the rapid diagnosis of this deadly disease. Here we report the design and development of a reliable, sensitive, and specific optical immunosensor for the detection of the dengue nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) biomarker in clinical samples obtained during early stages of infection. The present optical NS1 immunosensor comprises a biosensing surface consisting of specific monoclonal NS1 antibody for immunofluorescence-based NS1 antigen determination using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) conjugated to IgG antibody. The linear range of the optical immunosensor was from 15-500ngmL-1, with coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.92, high reproducibility (the relative standard deviation obtained was 2%), good stability for 21days at 4°C, and low detection limit (LOD) at 15ngmL-1. Furthermore, the optical immunosensor was capable of detecting NS1 analytes in plasma specimens from patients infected with the dengue virus, with low cross-reaction with plasma specimens containing the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and Zika virus. No studies have been performed on the reproducibility and cross-reactivity regarding NS1 specificity, which is thus a limitation for optical NS1 immunosensors. In contrast, the present study addressed these limitations carefully where these two important experiments were conducted to showcase the robustness of our newly developed optical-based fluorescence immunosensor, which can be practically used for direct NS1 determination in any untreated clinical sample.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  3. Rao TR
    Bull World Health Organ, 1971;44(5):585-91.
    PMID: 4400821
    Serological surveys have been widely used in South-East Asia to determine the presence and activity of arboviruses. The haemagglutination-inhibition test has been most frequently employed but complement-fixation and neutralization tests have also been used in some investigations.Although virus isolations provide the most conclusive evidence, they can be carried out in a few specialized centres only, and serological surveys are very important for studying the distribution of arboviruses.The surveys have shown that group B arboviruses (principally all four types of dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and West Nile) are widely prevalent. Dengue and Japanese encephalitis viruses are more widespread than West Nile virus, which was not known previously to extend east of India although recent survyes have shown that its range extends to Burma. Japanese encephalitis is frequent in most of South-East Asia but in India is found mainly in eastern and south-eastern parts of the country. Kyasanur Forest disease (KFD) and Langat viruses are the only tick-borne group B arboviruses definitely known to occur in the region, the former in India, the latter in Malaysia. KFD virus has been isolated only from a small focus in Mysore, although human and animal sera containing neutralizing antibodies to this virus have been found sporadically in widely scattered areas. Among the group A arboviruses, chikungunya and Sindbis have been detected in serological surveys, but the former has not yet been found in Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology
  4. Chen RE, Smith BK, Errico JM, Gordon DN, Winkler ES, VanBlargan LA, et al.
    Cell Host Microbe, 2021 Nov 10;29(11):1634-1648.e5.
    PMID: 34610295 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2021.09.006
    Although divergent dengue viruses (DENVs) have been isolated in insects, nonhuman primates, and humans, their relationships to the four canonical serotypes (DENV 1-4) are poorly understood. One virus isolated from a dengue patient, DKE-121, falls between genotype and serotype levels of sequence divergence to DENV-4. To examine its antigenic relationship to DENV-4, we assessed serum neutralizing and protective activity. Whereas DENV-4-immune mouse sera neutralize DKE-121 infection, DKE-121-immune sera inhibit DENV-4 less efficiently. Passive transfer of DENV-4 or DKE-121-immune sera protects mice against homologous, but not heterologous, DENV-4 or DKE-121 challenge. Antigenic cartography suggests that DENV-4 and DKE-121 are related but antigenically distinct. However, DENV-4 vaccination confers protection against DKE-121 in nonhuman primates, and serum from humans immunized with a tetravalent vaccine neutralize DENV-4 and DKE-121 infection equivalently. As divergent DENV strains, such as DKE-121, may meet criteria for serotype distinction, monitoring their capacity to impact dengue disease and vaccine efficacy appears warranted.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  5. Othman S, Rahman NA, Yusof R
    Virus Res, 2012 Jan;163(1):238-45.
    PMID: 22001567 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2011.09.040
    Despite aggressive efforts in dengue research, the control of dengue diseases and discovery of therapeutics against them await complete elucidation of its complex immune-pathogenesis. Unlike many viruses that escape the host's immune responses by suppressing the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I pathway, many Flaviviruses up-regulate the cell surface expression of MHC Class I complex. We recently reported MHC Class I HLA-A2 promoter activation by all serotypes of dengue virus (DV). The mechanism by which DV regulates this is further explored here in HepG2 human liver cell line. Using real-time PCR, evidence that, similar to infections by other Flaviviruses, DV infection has the ability to up-regulate the MHC Class I transcription and mRNA synthesis, is presented. The region responsive towards DV infection of all serotypes was mapped to the Class I Regulatory Complex (CRC) of the HLA-A2 promoter. Competition electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) with NFκB probe established the presence of specific DNA-protein complex in DV-infected nuclear extracts. Antibody-supershift assays identified the MHC Class I promoter activation by DV to occur through binding of p65/p50 heterodimers and p65 homodimers to κB1 and κB2 cis-acting elements, respectively, within the CRC, and not with the interferon consensus sequence (ICS). This study presents evidence of MHC Class I gene modulation by DV, hence providing a better understanding of dengue immune-pathogenesis that would consequently facilitate the discovery of antiviral therapeutics against dengue.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  6. Sharma A, Lal SK
    Rev Med Virol, 2019 05;29(3):e2036.
    PMID: 30706579 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2036
    Tetherin, an interferon-inducible gene was first discovered to be an antiviral factor in 2008. A vast range of viruses, such as influenza A virus (IAV), dengue virus, Ebola virus, HIV, and RSV, have been reported to be susceptible to the antiviral activity of tetherin. Multiple reports have been published encompassing the role of tetherin in the IAV life cycle. To date, nine reports have been published regarding the role of tetherin in the IAV life cycle, with four reports supporting tetherin as an antiviral factor while five other reports suggesting no effect. To this end, this review summarizes the list of viruses currently known to be inhibited by tetherin and describes mechanisms used by viruses to overcome the antiviral potential of tetherin. Further, using IAV as disease model, we provide existing evidence in favor and against tetherin being considered as an antiviral candidate. Subsequent analysis of the experimental procedures across IAV-tetherin published reports revealed that the experimental setup (ie, cell lines, transfection reagents, and multiplicity of infection), strain-specific activity of NS1, and differing roles of NS1 in different cell lines may add up to the contributing factors leading to the discrepancies observed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology
  7. Jahanshahi P, Wei Q, Jie Z, Ghomeishi M, Sekaran SD, Mahamd Adikan FR
    Bioengineered, 2017 May 04;8(3):239-247.
    PMID: 27533620 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2016.1223413
    Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensing is recently emerging as a valuable technique for measuring the binding constants, association and dissociation rate constants, and stoichimetry for a binding interaction kinetics in a number of emerging biological areas. This technique can be applied to the study of immune system diseases in order to contribute to improved understanding and evaluation of binding parameters for a variety of interactions between antigens and antibodies biochemically and clinically. Since the binding constants determination of an anti-protein dengue antibody (Ab) to a protein dengue antigen (Ag) is mostly complicated, the SPR technique aids a determination of binding parameters directly for a variety of particular dengue Ag_Ab interactions in the real-time. The study highlights the doctrine of real-time dengue Ag_Ab interaction kinetics as well as to determine the binding parameters that is performed with SPR technique. In addition, this article presents a precise prediction as a reference curve for determination of dengue sample concentration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  8. Khor CS, Tsuji R, Lee HY, Nor'e SS, Sahimin N, Azman AS, et al.
    Nutrients, 2021 Dec 16;13(12).
    PMID: 34960061 DOI: 10.3390/nu13124507
    Dengue fever (DF) is a mosquito-borne disease still with no effective treatment or vaccine available. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-group trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral intake of Lactococcus lactis strain plasma (LC-Plasma) on the presentation and severity of DF-like symptoms among healthy volunteers. Study participants (320) were assigned into two groups, and consumed either placebo or LC-Plasma tablets (approximately 100 billion cells/day) for 8 weeks. The clinical symptoms of DF were self-recorded through questionnaires, and exposure to DENV was determined by serum antibody and/or DENV antigen tests. No significant differences between groups were observed for exposure to DENV, or the symptomatic ratio. Results obtained showed that participants from the LC-Plasma group reported a significant reduction in the cumulative incidence days of DF-like symptoms, which include fever (p < 0.001), muscle pain (p < 0.005), joint pain (p < 0.001), and pain behind the eyes (p < 0.001), compared to that of the placebo group. Subgroup analysis revealed a significantly (p < 0.05) reduced severity score in the LC-Plasma group when study sites were separately analyzed. Overall, our findings suggest that LC-Plasma supplementation reduces the cumulative days with DF-like symptoms, and the severity of the symptoms. Daily oral intake of LC-Plasma, hence, is shown to mitigate the DF-like symptoms.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  9. Sam IC, Montoya M, Chua CL, Chan YF, Pastor A, Harris E
    Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg, 2019 11 01;113(11):678-684.
    PMID: 31294807 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trz056
    BACKGROUND: Zika virus (ZIKV) is believed to be endemic in Southeast Asia. However, there have been few Zika cases reported to date in Malaysia, which could be due to high pre-existing levels of population immunity.

    METHODS: To determine Zika virus (ZIKV) seroprevalence in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1085 serum samples from 2012, 2014-2015 and 2017 were screened for anti-ZIKV antibodies using a ZIKV NS1 blockade-of-binding assay. Reactive samples were confirmed using neutralization assays against ZIKV and the four dengue virus (DENV) serotypes. A sample was possible ZIKV seropositive with a ZIKV 50% neutralization (NT50) titre ≥20. A sample was probable ZIKV seropositive if, in addition, all DENV NT50 titres were <20 or the ZIKV NT50 titre was >4-fold greater than the highest DENV NT50 titre.

    RESULTS: We found low rates of possible ZIKV seropositivity (3.3% [95% confidence interval {CI} 2.4 to 4.6]) and probable ZIKV seropositivity (0.6% [95% CI 0.3 to 1.4]). Possible ZIKV seropositivity was independently associated with increasing age (odds ratio [OR] 1.04 [95% CI 1.02 to 1.06], p<0.0001) and male gender (OR 3.5 [95% CI 1.5 to 8.6], p=0.005).

    CONCLUSIONS: The low ZIKV seroprevalence rate, a proxy for population immunity, does not explain the low incidence of Zika in dengue-hyperendemic Kuala Lumpur. Other factors, such as the possible protective effects of pre-existing flavivirus antibodies or reduced transmission by local mosquito vectors, should be explored. Kuala Lumpur is at high risk of a large-scale Zika epidemic.

    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  10. Tan JW, Wan Zahidi NF, Kow ASF, Soo KM, Shaari K, Israf DA, et al.
    Biosci Rep, 2019 06 28;39(6).
    PMID: 31110077 DOI: 10.1042/BSR20181273
    Mast cells (MCs), a type of immune effector cell, have recently become recognized for their ability to cause vascular leakage during dengue virus (DENV) infection. Although MC stabilizers have been reported to attenuate DENV induced infection in animal studies, there are limited in vitro studies on the use of MC stabilizers against DENV induced MC degranulation. 2,4,6-trihydroxy-3-geranyl acetophenone (tHGA) has been reported to be a potential MC stabilizer by inhibiting IgE-mediated MC activation in both cellular and animal models. The present study aims to establish an in vitro model of DENV3-induced RBL-2H3 cells using ketotifen fumarate as a control drug, as well as to determine the effect of tHGA on the release of MC mediators upon DENV infection. Our results demonstrated that the optimal multiplicities of infection (MOI) were 0.4 × 10-2 and 0.8 × 10-2 focus forming units (FFU)/cell. Ketotifen fumarate was proven to attenuate DENV3-induced RBL-2H3 cells degranulation in this in vitro model. In contrast, tHGA was unable to attenuate the release of both β-hexosaminidase and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Nonetheless, our study has successfully established an in vitro model of DENV3-induced RBL-2H3 cells, which might be useful for the screening of potential MC stabilizers for anti-dengue therapies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology
  11. Soo KM, Khalid B, Ching SM, Chee HY
    PLoS One, 2016;11(5):e0154760.
    PMID: 27213782 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154760
    INTRODUCTION: Dengue virus (DENV) infection is currently a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the world; it has become more common and virulent over the past half-century and has gained much attention. Thus, this review compared the percentage of severe cases of both primary and secondary infections with different serotypes of dengue virus.

    METHODS: Data related to the number of cases involving dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), dengue shock syndrome (DSS) or severe dengue infections caused by different serotypes of dengue virus were obtained by using the SCOPUS, the PUBMED and the OVID search engines with the keywords "(dengue* OR dengue virus*) AND (severe dengue* OR severity of illness index* OR severity* OR DF* OR DHF* OR DSS*) AND (serotypes* OR serogroup*)", according to the MESH terms suggested by PUBMED and OVID.

    RESULTS: Approximately 31 studies encompassing 15,741 cases reporting on the dengue serotypes together with their severity were obtained, and meta-analysis was carried out to analyze the data. This study found that DENV-3 from the Southeast Asia (SEA) region displayed the greatest percentage of severe cases in primary infection (95% confidence interval (CI), 31.22-53.67, 9 studies, n = 598, I2 = 71.53%), whereas DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4 from the SEA region, as well as DENV-2 and DENV-3 from non-SEA regions, exhibited the greatest percentage of severe cases in secondary infection (95% CI, 11.64-80.89, 4-14 studies, n = 668-3,149, I2 = 14.77-96.20%). Moreover, DENV-2 and DENV-4 from the SEA region had been found to be more highly associated with dengue shock syndrome (DSS) (95% CI, 10.47-40.24, 5-8 studies, n = 642-2,530, I2 = 76.93-97.70%), while DENV-3 and DENV-4 from the SEA region were found to be more highly associated with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) (95% CI, 31.86-54.58, 9 studies, n = 674-2,278, I2 = 55.74-88.47%), according to the 1997 WHO dengue classification. Finally, DENV-2 and DENV-4 from the SEA region were discovered to be more highly associated with secondary infection compared to other serotypes (95% CI, 72.01-96.32, 9-12 studies, n = 671-2,863, I2 = 25.01-96.75%).

    CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that the presence of certain serotypes, including primary infection with DENV-3 from the SEA region and secondary infection with DENV-2, DENV-3, and DENV-4 also from the SEA region, as well as DENV-2 and DENV-3 from non SEA regions, increased the risk of severe dengue infections. Thus, these serotypes are worthy of special consideration when making clinical predictions upon the severity of the infection.

    SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42015026093 (http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO).

    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology
  12. Yang F, Guo GZ, Chen JQ, Ma HW, Liu T, Huang DN, et al.
    Epidemiol Infect, 2014 Feb;142(2):225-33.
    PMID: 23587429 DOI: 10.1017/S0950268813000897
    A suspected dengue fever outbreak occurred in 2010 at a solitary construction site in Shenzhen city, China. To investigate this epidemic, we used serological, molecular biological, and bioinformatics techniques. Of nine serum samples from suspected patients, we detected seven positive for dengue virus (DENV) antibodies, eight for DENV-1 RNA, and three containing live viruses. The isolated virus, SZ1029 strain, was sequenced and confirmed as DENV-1, showing the highest E-gene homology to D1/Malaysia/36000/05 and SG(EHI)DED142808 strains recently reported in Southeast Asia. Further phylogenetic tree analysis confirmed their close relationship. At the epidemic site, we also detected 14 asymptomatic co-workers (out of 291) positive for DENV antibody, and DENV-1-positive mosquitoes. Thus, we concluded that DENV-1 caused the first local dengue fever outbreak in Shenzhen. Because no imported case was identified, the molecular fingerprints of the SZ1029 strain suggest this outbreak may be due to vertical transmission imported from Southeast Asia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology
  13. Chem YK, Chua KB, Malik Y, Voon K
    Trop Biomed, 2015 Jun;32(2):344-51.
    PMID: 26691263 MyJurnal
    Monoclonal antibody-escape variant of dengue virus type 1 (MabEV DEN-1) was discovered and isolated in an outbreak of dengue in Klang Valley, Malaysia from December 2004 to March 2005. This study was done to investigate whether DEN152 (an isolate of MabEV DEN-1) is a product of recombination event or not. In addition, the non-synonymous mutations that correlate with the monoclonal antibody-escape variant were determined in this study. The genomes of DEN152 and two new DEN-1 isolates, DENB04 and DENK154 were completely sequenced, aligned, and compared. Phylogenetic tree was plotted and the recombination event on DEN152 was investigated. DEN152 is sub-grouped under genotype I and is closely related genetically to a DEN-1 isolated in Japan in 2004. DEN152 is not a recombinant product of any parental strains. Four amino acid substitutions were unique only to DEN 152. These amino acid substitutions were (Ser)[326](Leu), (Ser)[340](Leu) at the deduced E protein, (Ile)[250](Thr) at NS1 protein, and (Thr)[41](Ser) at NS5 protein. Thus, DEN152 is an isolate of the emerging monoclonal antibody-escape variant DEN-1 that escaped diagnostic laboratory detection.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  14. Jahanshahi P, Sekaran SD, Adikan FR
    Med Biol Eng Comput, 2015 Aug;53(8):679-87.
    PMID: 25791696 DOI: 10.1007/s11517-015-1262-2
    Evaluation of binding between analytes and its relevant ligands on surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor is of considerable importance for accurate determination and screening of an interference in immunosensors. Dengue virus serotype 2 was used as a case study in this investigation. This research work compares and interprets the results obtained from analytical analysis with the experimental ones. Both the theoretical calculations and experimental results are verified with one sample from each category of dengue serotypes 2 (low, mid, and high positive), which have been examined in the database of established laboratorial diagnosis. In order to perform this investigation, the SPR angle variations are calculated, analyzed, and then validated via experimental SPR angle variations. Accordingly, the error ratios of 5.35, 6.54, and 3.72% were obtained for the low-, mid-, and high-positive-specific immune globulins of patient serums, respectively. In addition, the magnetic fields of the biosensor are numerically simulated to show the effect of different binding mediums.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  15. Zainah S, Wahab AH, Mariam M, Fauziah MK, Khairul AH, Roslina I, et al.
    J Virol Methods, 2009 Feb;155(2):157-60.
    PMID: 19022293 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2008.10.016
    The performance of a commercial immunochromatography test for rapid detection of dengue NS1 antigen present in serum or plasma of patients was evaluated against a commercial dengue NS1 antigen-capture ELISA. The rapid immunochromatography test gave an overall sensitivity of 90.4% with a specificity of 99.5%. The sensitivity was highest for serum samples from which virus was isolated (96.3%) and lowest for those from which virus was not isolated and RT-PCR was negative (76.4%). The sensitivity was significantly higher for serum samples from patients with acute primary dengue (92.3%) than those from patients with acute secondary dengue (79.1%). The positive predictive value and negative predictive value of this commercial immunochromatography test were 99.6% and 87.9% respectively.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
  16. Chinikar S, Ghiasi SM, Shah-Hosseini N, Mostafavi E, Moradi M, Khakifirouz S, et al.
    Travel Med Infect Dis, 2013 May-Jun;11(3):166-9.
    PMID: 23194952 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2012.10.001
    Dengue fever is one of the most important arthropod-borne viral diseases of public health significance. It is endemic in most tropical and subtropical parts of the world, many of which are popular tourist destinations. The presence of dengue infection was examined in Iranian patients who were referred to the Arboviruses and Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers Laboratory of the Pasteur Institute of Iran and tested negative for Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) between 2000 and 2012. Serum samples from these patients were tested for the presence of specific IgG and IgM and viral nucleic acid in blood. Of the 300 sera tested, 15 (5%) were seropositive, and 3 (1%) were both serologically and PCR positive. Of the 15 seropositive cases, 8 (53.3%) had travelled to endemic areas including Malaysia (5, 62.5%), India (2, 25%) and Thailand (1, 12.5%). In contrast, 7 (46.7%) of the cases had not reported travelling abroad. Of these, six cases were from the Sistan and Baluchistan province in southeast Iran and neighbouring Pakistan. Travellers play a key role in the epidemiology of dengue infection in Iran and it is recommended that travellers to endemic areas take precautionary measures to avoid mosquito bites.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology
  17. Lam SK, Burke D, Capeding MR, Chong CK, Coudeville L, Farrar J, et al.
    Vaccine, 2011 Nov 28;29(51):9417-22.
    PMID: 21864627 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.08.047
    Infection with dengue virus is a major public health problem in the Asia-Pacific region and throughout tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world. Vaccination represents a major opportunity to control dengue and several candidate vaccines are in development. Experts in dengue and in vaccine introduction gathered for a two day meeting during which they examined the challenges inherent to the introduction of a dengue vaccine into the national immunisation programmes of countries of the Asia-Pacific. The aim was to develop a series of recommendations to reduce the delay between vaccine licensure and vaccine introduction. Major recommendations arising from the meeting included: ascertaining and publicising the full burden and cost of dengue; changing the perception of dengue in non-endemic countries to help generate global support for dengue vaccination; ensuring high quality active surveillance systems and diagnostics; and identifying sustainable sources of funding, both to support vaccine introduction and to maintain the vaccination programme. The attendees at the meeting were in agreement that with the introduction of an effective vaccine, dengue is a disease that could be controlled, and that in order to ensure a vaccine is introduced as rapidly as possible, there is a need to start preparing now.
    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology
  18. Ngim CF, Husain SMT, Hassan SS, Dhanoa A, Ahmad SAA, Mariapun J, et al.
    PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2021 05;15(5):e0009445.
    PMID: 34014983 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009445
    BACKGROUND: Dengue fever is the most common mosquito-borne infection worldwide where an expanding surveillance and characterization of this infection are needed to better inform the healthcare system. In this surveillance-based study, we explored the prevalence and distinguishing features of dengue fever amongst febrile patients in a large community-based health facility in southern peninsular Malaysia.

    METHODS: Over six months in 2018, we recruited 368 adults who met the WHO 2009 criteria for probable dengue infection. They underwent the following blood tests: full blood count, dengue virus (DENV) rapid diagnostic test (RDT), ELISA (dengue IgM and IgG), nested RT-PCR for dengue, multiplex qRT-PCR for Zika, Chikungunya and dengue as well as PCR tests for Leptopspira spp., Japanese encephalitis and West Nile virus.

    RESULTS: Laboratory-confirmed dengue infections (defined by positive tests in NS1, IgM, high-titre IgG or nested RT-PCR) were found in 167 (45.4%) patients. Of these 167 dengue patients, only 104 (62.3%) were positive on rapid diagnostic testing. Dengue infection was significantly associated with the following features: family or neighbours with dengue in the past week (AOR: 3.59, 95% CI:2.14-6.00, p<0.001), cutaneous rash (AOR: 3.58, 95% CI:1.77-7.23, p<0.001), increased temperature (AOR: 1.33, 95% CI:1.04-1.70, p = 0.021), leucopenia (white cell count < 4,000/μL) (AOR: 3.44, 95% CI:1.72-6.89, p<0.001) and thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150,000/μL)(AOR: 4.63, 95% CI:2.33-9.21, p<0.001). Dengue infection was negatively associated with runny nose (AOR: 0.47, 95% CI:0.29-0.78, p = 0.003) and arthralgia (AOR: 0.42, 95% CI:0.24-0.75, p = 0.004). Serotyping by nested RT-PCR revealed mostly mono-infections with DENV-2 (n = 64), DENV-1 (n = 32) and DENV-3 (n = 17); 14 co-infections occurred with DENV-1/DENV-2 (n = 13) and DENV-1/DENV-4 (n = 1). Besides dengue, none of the pathogens above were found in patients' serum.

    CONCLUSIONS: Acute undifferentiated febrile infections are a diagnostic challenge for community-based clinicians. Rapid diagnostic tests are increasingly used to diagnose dengue infection but negative tests should be interpreted with caution as they fail to detect a considerable proportion of dengue infection. Certain clinical features and haematological parameters are important in the clinical diagnosis of dengue infection.

    Matched MeSH terms: Dengue Virus/immunology*
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