article · Pathogens and Global Health
During the 2019 dengue outbreak in Tanzania, thousands of cases were initially reported through serological analysis. An investigation of 191 outpatient blood serum samples collected in Kinondoni and Ilala districts between March and May 2019 confirmed the specific viral strain involved. Rapid diagnostic testing showed that 110 of the samples, or 57.6 percent, were seropositive for dengue virus markers. Further testing with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction detected viral ribonucleic acid in 18.2 percent of those seropositive specimens. Genetic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the polyprotein gene identified the pathogen as dengue virus serotype 1. The detected strains were closely matched to each other and grouped with Asian lineages, pointing to potential intercontinental introduction linked to globalisation. The findings emphasise the role of molecular surveillance during outbreaks to direct public health interventions.
Dengue is an expanding viral threat in tropical and subtropical regions. Accurately identifying circulating serotypes and their genetic origins helps health authorities track how foreign strains enter local populations. Demonstrating that local outbreak strains match Asian lineages provides critical context on disease introduction, illustrating the necessity of routine genetic surveillance to support targeted vector control and rapid outbreak containment.
This work represents early-stage epidemiological research rather than an applied commercial technology. The findings could assist diagnostic developers and public health bodies in verifying that diagnostic tests and surveillance protocols accurately capture circulating regional variants. However, because the study concentrates purely on genetic characterisation to inform disease monitoring, the abstract does not indicate a direct pathway to commercialisation.
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Dengue is an important mosquito-borne viral disease in humans in tropical and subtropical countries. In 2019, a total of 6917 dengue cases were reported in Tanzania based on serological analysis. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of dengue virus (DENV) and conduct its genetic characterization. A total of 191 serum samples were collected from the outpatients seeking care from health facilities in Kinondoni and Ilala districts between March and May 2019. All the samples were initially tested for the presence of non-structural protein 1 and anti-DENV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM using a commercial OnSite Duo Dengue Ag-IgG/IgM rapid test. Of the 191 sera, 110 (57.6%) were DENV seropositive. The presence of DENV ribonucleic acid was confirmed in 18.2% of the seropositive sera by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The RT-PCR products were cleaned and partial sequences of DENV polyprotein gene determined using dideoxynucleotide cycle sequencing followed by phylogenetic analysis. We present the occurrence of DENV serotype 1 (DENV-1) during the 2019 outbreak in Tanzania. The DENV-1 strains reported in the present study are highly identical and cluster with Asian DENV-1 strains indicating the possibility of intercontinental spread of DENV through globalization. We advocate for the need for molecular surveillance of dengue viruses during outbreaks to provide rapid evidence of the disease to guide public health interventions.
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DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2021.1905302
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