Douglas Kirk Osmond, Dutta Sudip Kumar, Martina Byron, Anfasa Fatih, Samuels T Alafia, Hilaire Marquita Gittens-St
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, St. Michael BB11000, Barbados, West Indies.
Artemis One Health Research Foundation, Molengraaffsingel 10, 2629 JD Delft, The Netherlands.
Trop Med Infect Dis. 2020 May 2;5(2):68. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed5020068.
Analysis of the temporal, seasonal and demographic distribution of dengue virus (DENV) infections in Barbados was conducted using national surveillance data from a total of 3994 confirmed dengue cases. Diagnosis was confirmed either by DENV-specific real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), or non-structural protein 1 (NS1) antigen or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests; a case fatality rate of 0.4% (10/3994) was observed. The prevalence rate of dengue fever (DF) varied from 27.5 to 453.9 cases per 100,000 population among febrile patients who sought medical attention annually. DF cases occurred throughout the year with low level of transmission observed during the dry season (December to June), then increased transmission during rainy season (July to November) peaking in October. Three major dengue epidemics occurred in Barbados during 2010, 2013 and possibly 2016 with an emerging three-year interval. DF prevalence rate among febrile patients who sought medical attention overall was highest among the 10-19 years old age group. The highest DF hospitalisation prevalence rate was observed in 2013. Multiple serotypes circulated during the study period and Dengue virus serotype 2 (DENV-2) was the most prevalent serotype during 2010, whilst DENV-1 was the most prevalent serotype in 2013. Two DENV-1 strains from the 2013 DENV epidemic were genetically more closely related to South East Asian strains, than Caribbean or South American strains, and represent the first ever sequencing of DENV strains in Barbados. However, the small sample size ( 2) limits any meaningful conclusions. DF prevalence rates were not significantly different between females and males. Public health planning should consider DENV inter-epidemic periodicity, the current COVID-19 pandemic and similar clinical symptomology between DF and COVID-19. The implementation of routine sequencing of DENV strains to obtain critical data can aid in battling DENV epidemics in Barbados.
利用来自3994例确诊登革热病例的国家监测数据，对巴巴多斯登革热病毒（DENV）感染的时间、季节和人口分布进行了分析。诊断通过DENV特异性实时逆转录聚合酶链反应（rRT-PCR）、非结构蛋白1（NS1）抗原或酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）检测得以确认；观察到的病死率为0.4%（10/3994）。每年寻求医疗护理的发热患者中，登革热（DF）的患病率为每10万人27.5至453.9例不等。DF病例全年都有发生，旱季（12月至6月）传播水平较低，然后在雨季（7月至11月）传播增加，10月达到高峰。2010年、2013年以及可能在2016年，巴巴多斯发生了三次主要的登革热疫情，呈现出三年的间隔期。总体上寻求医疗护理的发热患者中，DF患病率在10 - 19岁年龄组中最高。2013年观察到最高的DF住院患病率。在研究期间多种血清型传播，登革热病毒血清型2（DENV-2）是2010年最流行的血清型，而DENV-1是2013年最流行的血清型。2013年登革热疫情中的两株DENV-1毒株在基因上与东南亚毒株的关系比与加勒比或南美毒株更为密切，这是巴巴多斯首次对DENV毒株进行测序。然而，样本量较小（2）限制了得出任何有意义的结论。DF患病率在女性和男性之间没有显著差异。公共卫生规划应考虑DENV疫情的间隔周期、当前的COVID-19大流行以及DF和COVID-19之间相似的临床症状。实施DENV毒株的常规测序以获取关键数据有助于抗击巴巴多斯的DENV疫情。
