PREVALENCE OF SEROTYPE VARIANTS OF DENGUE VIRUS IN VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH

The four different dengue virus strains known as DENV 1-4 can cause dengue fever when they infect a person. Risk of suffering dengue hemorrhagic fever-dengue shock syndrome increases when there is co-circulation of multiple serotypes. Acute phase sera from suspected cases of fever were tested for the presence of DENV serotypes. A total of 169 serum samples were tested for the presence of NS1 antigen and positive samples were subjected to Serotyping. Of these, 41 (24.2%) were positive for NS1 antigen and DENV Serotyping by Conventional PCR showed 36.5% had DENV serotypes. All the serotypes were found Co-circulating with DENV 1 60%, followed by DENV 2 serotype with 20% respectively. Among 15 virus positive samples, single infection with DENV 1 was found in 9(60%) samples, DENV 2 in 3(20%) samples, doubly infected with (DENV 3+DENV 4)in 1(6.6%) and (DENV 1 + DENV 4) in 1(6.6%) sample and triple infection with (DENV 1 + DENV 3 + DENV 4) was noticed in 1(6.6%) sample. This study provided more information on the dengue serotype distribution in Vijayawada. Infecting dengue serotype and Co-circulation of different serotypes play an important role in disease severity among individuals infected with the virus.