Geographical distribution, evaluation of risk of dengue and its relationship with the El Niño Southern Oscillation in an endemic region of Peru between 2004 and 2015.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the geographical distribution and risk stratification of dengue infection in an endemic region of Peru, and its relationship with the presence of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). RESULTS: For the analysis, the definition and information about the ENSO events in Peru was obtained from the SENAMHI and IGP reports. The geographical distribution of dengue cases in the territory comprising the 11 districts is homogeneous. There were 1 498 confirmed cases of dengue reported, the highest incidence was determined in Puerto Inca where it reached an incidence of 3210.14/100,000 hab. Of the 11 districts, 2 were classified as a high risk of transmission, 3 as moderate risk, 3 as low risk and in 3 of them the risk of virus transmission could not be determined.

Dengue diagnosis in an endemic area of Peru: Clinical characteristics and positive frequencies by RT-PCR and serology for NS1, IgM, and IgG.

BACKGROUND: Huánuco is a central eastern region of Peru whose geography includes high forest and low jungle, as well as a mountain range that constitutes the inter-Andean valleys. It is considered a region endemic for dengue due to the many favorable conditions that facilitate transmission of the virus. METHODS: A total of 268 serum samples from patients in Huánuco, Peru with an acute febrile illness were assessed for the presence of dengue virus (DENV) via RT-PCR and NS1, IgM, and IgG ELISA during December 2015 and March 2016. RESULTS: DENV was detected in 25% of samples via RT-PCR, 19% of samples by NS1 antigen ELISA, and 10.5% of samples by IgM ELISA. DENV IgG was detected in 15.7% of samples by ELISA. The most frequent symptoms associated with fever across all groups were headache, myalgia, and arthralgia, with no significant difference between the four test methods CONCLUSIONS: In this study, DENV was identified in up to 25% of the samples using the standard laboratory method. In addition, a correlation was established between the frequency of positive results and the serological tests that determine NS1, IgM, and IgG. There is an increasing need for point-of-care tests to strengthen epidemiological surveillance in Peru.