Standardisation of a real-time PCR technique for dengue diagnosis

• Grant number: 06/06393-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2007
• End date: June 30, 2007
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Victor Hugo Aquino Quintana
• Grantee: Kelly de Paula Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Infections of humans with dengue viruses (DENV), which belong to the genus Flavivirus (family, Flaviviridae), can be subclinical or cause illnesses ranging from a mild, flu-like syndrome with rash (dengue fever [DF]) to a severe and sometimes fatal disease, characterized by capillary leakage, thrombocytopenia and sometimes hypovolemic shock (hemorrhagic dengue fever [DHF/DSS]). DENV are classified in four immunological distinct serotypes: DENV1-4. DENV epidemics have been aggravated frightfully in Brazil. Thousands of cases are notified every year, mobilizing the health authorities for vector control and patients management requiring great financial expenses. Thus, fast and accurate detection of positive cases of dengue infection is necessary to improve patients management, as well as to assist the authorities to take decisions related to vector control. Therefore, the objective of this work is to standardize a real time RT-PCR that could be routinely used in the laboratory. (AU)