Clinical features and transmission risk analysis of dengue virus infections in Shenzhen, During 2014–2019

Dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are among the most common tropical diseases affecting humans. To analyze the risk of clinical and transmission of DF/DHF in Shenzhen, the surveillance on patients of all-age patients with dengue virus (DENV) infections was conducted. Our findings revealed that the majority of DENV-infected patients are young to middle-aged males, and the development of the disease is accompanied by abnormal changes in the percentages of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and basophils. Demographic analysis revealed that these patients is concentrated in areas such as Futian District, which may be due to the higher mosquito density and temperature than that in other area. Subsequent, mosquito infection experiments confirmed that the effect of temperature shift on DENV proliferation and transmission. Not only that, constant temperatures can enhance the spread of DENV, even increase the risk of epidemic. Thus, the role of innate immune response should be highlighted in the prediction of severe severity of DENV-infected patients, and temperature should be taken into account in the prevention and control of DENV. INTRODUCTION: Dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are among the most common tropical diseases affecting humans, and which caused by the four dengue virus serotypes (DENV 1–4). OBJECTIVES: To analyze the risk of clinical and transmission of DF/DHF in Shenzhen. METHODS: The surveillance on patients of all-age patients with dengue virus (DENV) infections was conducted. RESULTS: Our findings revealed that the majority of DENV-infected patients are young to middle-aged males, and the development of the disease is accompanied by abnormal changes in the percentages of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and basophils. Demographic analysis revealed that these patients is concentrated in areas such as Futian District, which may be due to the higher mosquito density and temperature than that in other area. Subsequent, mosquito infection experiments confirmed that the effect of temperature shift on DENV proliferation and transmission. Not only that, constant temperatures can enhance the spread of DENV, even increase the risk of epidemic. CONCLUSION: 1. Elevated levels of neutrophils, lymphocytes, basophils, and temperature are all significant risk factors for dengue transmission and pathogenesis; 2. Temperature increasing is associated with a higher risk of dengue transmission; 3. Fluctuations in temperature around 28 °C (28 ± 5 °C) would increase dengue transmission.