Phylogenetic Characterization of Circulating Dengue and Alkhumra Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses in Western Saudi Arabia and Lack of Evidence of Zika Virus in the Region: A Retrospective Study, 2010-2015

Overview

Journal J Med Virol

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2017 Feb 16

PMID 28198548

Citations 9

Authors

Moneerah S Al-Saeed

Sherif A El-Kafrawy

Suha A Farraj

Tagreed L Al-Subhi

Norah A Othman

Arwa Alsultan

Huda G Ben Helaby

Mustafa M AlShawdari

Ahmed M Hassan

Remi N Charrel

Esam I Azhar

Anwar M Hashem

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Flaviviruses represent a global public health concern. They consist of ∼70 viruses with almost half of them causing human diseases with unspecified febrile illnesses. Cities in western Saudi Arabia are endemic for viruses (DENV) with sporadic infections due to Alkhumra hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV). They also represent a major destination for travelers coming for annual religious pilgrimages (Hajj and Umrah) from all over the world. However, whether other flaviviruses are circulating is not known because of the limited number of surveillance studies. Here, we retrospectively screened 690 samples for flaviviruses in samples from patients with unexplained febrile illnesses between 2010 and 2015 in western Saudi Arabia using a pan-flaviviruses RT-PCR assay. Despite Zika virus RNA was not detected, this study confirms circulation and/or sporadic spread of DENV-2, DENV-3, and AHFV, higher prevalence of DENV-2, and a role for visitors from DENV endemic countries in DENV importation into the Kingdom. Further analysis also showed very low genetic diversity of AHFV confirming its slow microevolution. Accordingly, continuous and prospective surveillance for flaviviruses using such assay are warranted in Saudi Arabia which receives millions of Muslims annually to implement effective control measures in light of the global widespread and outbreaks of several flaviviruses.

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