Multiple introductions of dengue virus strains contribute to dengue outbreaks in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, in 2015–2016

BACKGROUND: Dengue fever is a febrile disease caused by dengue virus (DENV), which affects people throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including Indonesia. East Kalimantan (Borneo) province suffered a dramatic increase in dengue cases in 2015 and 2016, making it the province with the second highest incidence of dengue in Indonesia. Despite this, dengue in East Kalimantan is understudied; leaving transmission dynamics of the disease in the area are mostly unknown. In this study, we investigate the factors contributing to the outbreaks in East Kalimantan. METHODS: Prospective clinical and molecular virology study was conducted in two main cities in the province, namely Samarinda and Balikpapan, in 2015–2016. Patients’ clinical, hematological, and demographic data were recorded. Dengue detection and confirmation was performed using NS1-antigen and IgG/IgM antibody detection. RT-PCR was conducted to determine the serotypes of the virus. Phylogenetic analysis was performed based on envelope gene sequences. RESULTS: Three hundred patients with suspected dengue were recruited. Among these, 132 (44%) were diagnosed with dengue by NS1 antigen and/or nucleic acid detection. The majority of the infections (60%) were primary, with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) the predominant manifestation (71.9%). Serotyping detected all four DENV serotypes in 112 (37.3%) cases, with the majority of patients (58.9%) infected by DENV-3. Phylogenetic analysis based on envelope gene sequences revealed the genotypes of the viruses as DENV-1 Genotype I, DENV-2 Cosmopolitan, and DENV-3 Genotype I. Most virus strains were closely-related to strains from cities in Indonesia. CONCLUSIONS: Our observations indicate that multiple introductions of endemic DENV from surrounding cities in Indonesia, coupled with relatively low herd immunity, were likely responsible for the outbreak of the dominant viruses. The study provides information on the clinical spectrum of the disease, together with serology, viral genetics, and demographic data, which will be useful for better understanding of dengue disease in Borneo. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12985-019-1202-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.