Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019

Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019

Dengue virus (DENV) is the most important arbovirus worldwide. In 2019, a significant increase in dengue cases was reported worldwide, resulting in a peak of imported cases in some European countries such as Spain. We aimed to describe travel-associated and locally acquired DENV strains detected in...

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Main Authors: Jéssica Navero-Castillejos, Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá, Elena Sulleiro, Aroa Silgado, Tomás Montalvo, Laura Barahona, Núria Busquets, José Muñoz, Daniel Camprubí-Ferrer, Manuel Valdivia, Ana Martínez, Maria Assumpció Bou-Monclús, Itziar Martínez-Calleja, Mireia Jané, Cristina Rius, Hernán Vargas-Leguas, Beatriz Escudero-Pérez, Rosa Albarracín, Alexander Navarro, Mireia Navarro, Josep Barrachina, Miguel J. Martínez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Viruses
Subjects:
dengue
autochthonous transmission
surveillance
<i>Aedes albopictus</i>
molecular epidemiology
phylogenetic analysis
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/621
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Summary:Dengue virus (DENV) is the most important arbovirus worldwide. In 2019, a significant increase in dengue cases was reported worldwide, resulting in a peak of imported cases in some European countries such as Spain. We aimed to describe travel-associated and locally acquired DENV strains detected in 2019 in the Catalonia region (northeastern Spain), a hotspot for dengue introduction in Europe. Through sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the envelope gene, 75 imported viremic cases and two local strains were described. Autochthonous transmission events included an infection of a local mosquito with an imported dengue strain and a locally acquired human dengue infection from a locally infected mosquito. Overall, all four DENV serotypes and up to 10 different genotypes were detected. Phylogenetic analysis revealed transcontinental circulations associated with DENV-1 and DENV-2 and the presence of DENV-4 genotype I in Indonesia, where few cases had been previously described. A molecular study of the autochthonous events determined that local <i>Ae. albopictus</i> mosquitoes were infected by an African DENV-1 genotype V strain, while the locally acquired human case was caused by a DENV-3 genotype I of Asian origin. These findings underline the wide variability of imported strains and the high risk of DENV introduction into this territory, emphasizing the importance and usefulness of molecular characterization and phylogenetics for both local and global surveillance of the disease.
ISSN:1999-4915

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