RESUMEN
Objectives:As a part of an ongoing research programme on vector-borne viral diseases especially Dengue, a retrospective analytical study on the occurrence and distribution of Dengue virus serotype(s) in the state of Manipur – a small state situated in the northeastern region of the Indian subcontinent was carried out at Viral Research & Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL), Department of Microbiology, Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal which is a tertiary care hospital.Materials & Methods:A total of 914 blood samples from clinically dengue-suspected patients were screened for the presence of Dengue infection by adopting the ELISA (IgM) technique during the period from 01/06/2022 to 02/12/2022. Further, anti-Dengue IgM antibody-positive samples having high Optical Density (OD) value(s) were selected and subjected to RT PCR to determine the serotype(s) of the Dengue virus.Results:Of the 914 blood samples examined for the presence of Dengue infection, 111 (12.14%) were found positive for anti- Dengue IgM antibody indicating acute infection of Dengue virus.Of the positive patients, there were 56 (50.45%) males and 55 (49.54%) females.Predominant clinical features observed among the Dengue-confirmed patients included – fever (74%), headache (19%), arthralgia / joint pain (9%), myalgia (6%) and vomiting (6%) respectively.The study revealed that while the circulation of three (03) Dengue virus serotypes, namely DENV – 1, DENV – 2 & DENV – 3 were observed in the Tengnoupal district,the circulation of two Dengue virus serotypes i.e., DENV – 1 & DENV – 2 was evident in Imphal West & Bishnupur districts respectively.The present study also reveals the occurrence of Dengue virus serotype – 1 (DENV - 1) in Churachandpur district. Conclusion:The present study reveals the circulation/distribution of three Dengue virus serotypes namely, DENV – 1, DENV – 2 and DENV – 3 among the studied samples.