PLOS Global Public Health (Jan 2024)

Identifying the strains of dengue circulating in the western province of Sri Lanka during 2019-2022.

  • Harshi Abeygoonawardena,
  • Kanchana Dassanayake,
  • Jayani Kariyawasam,
  • Teshan Chathuranga,
  • Tharmini Sundralingam,
  • Hansani Gunasekara,
  • Sathyani Wevita,
  • Gayani Premawansa,
  • Sunil Premawansa,
  • Ananda Wijewickrama,
  • Namal Wijesinghe,
  • Varuna Navaratne,
  • Daniela Weiskopf,
  • Alessandro Sette,
  • Chandanamali Punchihewa,
  • Aruna Dharshan De Silva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003150
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 7
p. e0003150

Abstract

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A study conducted from July 2019 to May 2022 at several hospitals in the Western Province, Sri Lanka, focused on dengue virus strains during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among 417 febrile patients, 47% were PCR-positive for dengue. Serotyping revealed DENV-1 (12.8%), DENV-2 (46.4%), DENV-3 (37.2%), and DENV-4 (3.6%). Sequencing identified two genotypically distinct variants of DENV-3 and two genotypically distinct variants of DENV-1, while DENV-2 showed a single genotype cluster. Notably, the study found concurrent circulation of two DENV-3 and two DENV-1 genotypes, along with DENV-2, during the pandemic in the area. This data suggests the presence of multiple dengue strains, including several DENV-1 and DENV-3 variants, without major epidemic outbreaks reported in the Western Province. Continuous monitoring and research are essential to understand the dynamics of these dengue strains in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.