Dengue is the most important and rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. It is caused by any of the 4 serologically related virus serotypes designated as: DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4, each causing its characteristic symptoms which range from acute febrile illness to severe manifestations (DHF and DHS). The present study focuses on the circulating serotypes of Dengue in this region. A total of 246 clinically suspected patients of Dengue fulfilling the WHO case definition were undertaken in the study. Acute phase blood samples were collected, centrifuged and tested for NS1 antigen, IgM and IgG antibody and samples positive by one of the parameters: NS1 Ag and/or IgM Ab/IgG Ab were further subjected to Real time RT-PCR. Of the 246 clinically suspected cases of Dengue, 68 () were positive for NS1 Ag and/or IgM Ab/IgG Ab and of these, 30 (44%) samples were positive by Real time RT-PCR. All the 4 Dengue serotypes were found to co-circulate in this region of which, 22 cases () were positive for DEN-3, 4 cases () were positive for DEN-1, 3 cases (10%) were positive for DEN4 and 1 case () was positive for DEN-2 respectively. The study highlights the cocirculation of all the 4 dengue serotypes with DEN-3 being the predominant serotype. The present investigation will not only help us to determine the evolutionary pattern of emerging Dengue virus but also assist us in forecasting dengue outbreaks and improving control measures of vectors thus helping us to prevent future outbreaks. | Co-circulation of dengue serotypes in a tertiary care hospital in NCR region
