The Power of Precision with BPX qPENTA DenV Profile
Dengue virus (DENV) is a major health concern. It affects nearly 390 million people annually across over 100 countries, especially in tropical regions. Severe symptoms caused by DENV can be life-threatening. The virus lacks a specific antiviral treatment, and current vaccines provide limited protection. This makes prevention and early diagnosis essential. (BioPathogenix qPenta DenV allows you to detect all four serotypes of the Dengue Virus with enhanced accuracy.)
In the United States, dengue cases have increased recently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 745 dengue cases among U.S. travelers in 2024. In South America, Brazil and Argentina faced severe outbreaks. Brazil’s Health Ministry anticipated over 4.2 million cases in 2024, setting a new record. Argentina reported its worst dengue outbreak, with over 100,000 cases in the first three months of 2024—an elevenfold increase from 2023.
Dengue is endemic in U.S. territories like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. In non-endemic areas, it is the leading cause of fever among travelers returning from tropical or subtropical regions, including the Caribbean, Latin America, and Asia. Sporadic outbreaks also occur in areas with mosquito vectors, such as along the U.S.-Mexico border, Florida, and Hawaii. Dengue is a nationally notifiable disease in the United States.
Understanding Dengue Virus: Serotypes
Symptoms and Diagnosis of DenV
Most DENV infections are asymptomatic. However, some cases present with a sudden fever 4 to 6 days after infection. This fever is often accompanied by nonspecific symptoms like nausea, headache, rash, and muscle and joint pain. Severe dengue occurs in a subset of patients. This critical phase begins when the fever subsides. It is marked by plasma leakage, respiratory distress, shock, internal bleeding, and organ dysfunction. Delays in clinical management can be fatal.
Laboratory diagnosis of dengue involves several methods to confirm infection and differentiate it from other febrile illnesses. Serological tests detect IgM and IgG antibodies. IgM indicates a recent infection and appears 4 to 5 days after symptoms begin. IgG reflects past infections. However, relying solely on IgM can result in false-negative results for previously infected individuals. Nonspecific reactions and cross-reactivity with related viruses further complicate serodiagnosis.
How did Dengue Virus (DenV) Evolve?
Dengue virus originated as a sylvatic virus, circulating between mosquitoes and non-human animals. Over time, genetic mutations enabled it to adapt to human hosts. This spillover event allowed the virus to establish urban transmission cycles.
Nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT), especially reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), is highly sensitive and specific. It detects viral RNA during the acute infection phase, typically within the first week. NAAT provides high sensitivity, rapid results, and the ability to differentiate between DENV serotypes. It can also identify co-infections, such as chikungunya and Zika virus.
BioPathogenix qPENTA DenV Assay Product Highlights
These tests included RNA arboviruses like West Nile virus (WNV) and yellow fever virus (YFV), as well as herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2). Cytomegalovirus (CMV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6), and human papillomaviruses (HPVs) were also evaluated.
Bacterial organisms, including Borrelia, were tested for cross-reactivity. No cross-reactivity was detected at clinically relevant concentrations. In silico analysis also predicted no false-positive results for the RT-PCR.