[Sequence of viral infection associated to pregnancy in a dengue outbreak in Santiago de Cuba in 2006].

Abstract

Introduction: several dengue outbreaks have taken place in Santiago de Cuba province in the last few years, in which pregnant women have been involved.

Objectives: to determine the immunity and to describe the role of dengue infection and its sequence.

Methods: an observational and descriptive study was conducted to characterize dengue immunity in mothers and children after 10 and 12 months of birth and to determine the influence of certain viral infection sequences in pregnant women who suffered this disease during the dengue 3 epidemics in Santiago de Cuba. To this end, serum samples from 25 females tested dengue 3-positive and from children born to them after 10 and 12 months of childbirth were studied. IgG titers and viral infection sequences were determined and analyzed according to the World Health Organization dengue classification criteria.

Results: the children did not present with the antibodies and the viral infection sequences associated to mothers; in order of frequency, the same percentage was observed in DEN2/DEN3, DEN1/DEN2/DEN3 (21,74 %); but lower percentage in DEN1/DEN3 (17,39 %).

Conclusions: the children did not develop humoral immunity (IgG) despite some manifestations inherent to the disease. The secondary infections prompted the most serious forms of the disease.