Investigation of dengue-virus serotypes involved in outbreaks in the Caribbean over a 10-year period (1983 - 1992) - abstract

The temporal distribution of dengue virus serotypes 1, 2 and 4 recovered from the investigation of 9,968 specimens obtained from several Caribbean countries over a ten-year period (1983 - 1992) were studied. The use of insect cell cultures and serotype-specific monoclones allowed dengue virus to be detected in 539 instances. Of the specimens typed, 108 (20 per cent) were serotype one, 274 (50.8 per cent), serotype 2 and 157 (29.2 per cent), serotype 4. Annual changes in the frequency of individual serotypes 1, 2 and 4 were observed, with serotype 2 being detected over the entire period of investigation, except in 1984. The use of a group-specific flavivirus antiserum demonstrated that other viruses belonging to this group may not be characterized with the monoclones currently available for designating dengue virus serotypes (AU)