AUTHOR=Chen-Germán María , Araúz Dimelza , Aguilar Celestino , Vega Melanie , Gonzalez Claudia , Gondola Jessica , Moreno Lourdes , Cerezo Lizbeth , Franco Leticia , Mendez-Rico Jairo , Pascale Juan Miguel , López-Vergès Sandra , Martínez Alexander A. , Moreno Brechla 

TITLE=Detection of dengue virus serotype 4 in Panama after 23 years without circulation

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2024.1467465

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2024.1467465

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Panama is a country with endemic Dengue virus (DENV) transmission since its reintroduction in 1993. The four serotypes have circulated in the country and the region of the Americas, however, DENV-4 confirmed autochthonous cases have not been identified since 2000, despite its circulation in neighboring countries. Here, we report DENV-4 detection in Panama in the last four-month period of 2023 with co-circulation of the other serotypes, this was associated with a peak of dengue cases during the dry season even though most dengue outbreaks are described in the rainy season. Complete genomes of DENV-4 allowed us to determine that cases were caused by DENV-4 genotype IIb, the same genotype as 23 years ago, with high similarity to DENV-4 sequences circulating in Nicaragua and El Salvador during 2023. This report shows the importance of maintaining serotype and genotype surveillance for early detection of new variants circulating in the country.