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
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/621
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author 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
author_facet 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
author_sort Jéssica Navero-Castillejos
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj-art-99275dc0b2b94575906826afb19df8df2025-08-20T02:34:02ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152025-04-0117562110.3390/v17050621Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019Jéssica Navero-Castillejos0Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá1Elena Sulleiro2Aroa Silgado3Tomás Montalvo4Laura Barahona5Núria Busquets6José Muñoz7Daniel Camprubí-Ferrer8Manuel Valdivia9Ana Martínez10Maria Assumpció Bou-Monclús11Itziar Martínez-Calleja12Mireia Jané13Cristina Rius14Hernán Vargas-Leguas15Beatriz Escudero-Pérez16Rosa Albarracín17Alexander Navarro18Mireia Navarro19Josep Barrachina20Miguel J. Martínez21Department of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainInfectious Diseases Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, PROSICS, 08035 Barcelona, SpainInfectious Diseases Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, PROSICS, 08035 Barcelona, SpainInfectious Diseases Department, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, PROSICS, 08035 Barcelona, SpainUrban Pest Surveillance and Control Service, Public Health Agency of Barcelona, 08023 Barcelona, SpainUrban Pest Surveillance and Control Service, Public Health Agency of Barcelona, 08023 Barcelona, SpainIRTA, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA, IRTA-UAB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainPublic Health Agency of Catalonia, Generalitat of Catalonia, 08005 Barcelona, SpainPublic Health Agency of Catalonia, Generalitat of Catalonia, 08005 Barcelona, SpainPublic Health Agency of Catalonia, Generalitat of Catalonia, 08005 Barcelona, SpainPublic Health Agency of Catalonia, Generalitat of Catalonia, 08005 Barcelona, SpainPublic Health Agency of Catalonia, Generalitat of Catalonia, 08005 Barcelona, SpainCIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, SpainEpidemiology Service, Public Health Agency of Barcelona, 08023 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Clinical Microbiology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, SpainDengue 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/621dengueautochthonous transmissionsurveillance<i>Aedes albopictus</i>molecular epidemiologyphylogenetic analysis
spellingShingle 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
Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019
Viruses
dengue
autochthonous transmission
surveillance
<i>Aedes albopictus</i>
molecular epidemiology
phylogenetic analysis
title Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019
title_full Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019
title_fullStr Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019
title_full_unstemmed Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019
title_short Molecular Epidemiology of Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Virus Infections in Catalonia, Spain, 2019
title_sort molecular epidemiology of travel associated and locally acquired dengue virus infections in catalonia spain 2019
topic dengue
autochthonous transmission
surveillance
<i>Aedes albopictus</i>
molecular epidemiology
phylogenetic analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/5/621
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