Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dengue has been known to be endemic in India for over two centuries. There is a need to assess the magnitude of dengue virus establishment in the state of Rajasthan. A surveillance study was conducted to analyze dengue seropositivity among patients with clinical suspicion of dengue fever like illness, who presented to or were admitted at a tertiary care private hospital at Jaipur. METHODS: Serum samples from 2169 suspected dengue cases (1356 males and 813 females) were received in the Serology lab over the four year study period (2008-2011). The samples were subjected to a rapid immuno-chromatography assay with differential detection of IgM and IgG antibodies. A primary dengue infection was defined by a positive IgM band and a negative IgG band, whereas a secondary infection was defined by a positive Ig G band with or without an IgM band. RESULT: Among the 2169 patients who were screened; 18.99% (412) were dengue specific IgM positive cases. 64. 49% (1399) cases were negative for dengue specific antibodies, 5.67% (123) were primary dengue cases, and 23.51% (510) were total secondary dengue cases. During the study period, the Dengue IgM seropositivity was highest in the year 2009 and was lowest in the year 2011. Most of the cases occurred in the post-monsoon season, with a peak in the month of October, each year. CONCLUSION: A detailed and continuous epidemiological surveillance is required, for monitoring the incrusion and spread of dengue viruses. This will help in undertaking and implementing effective control and management strategies.