Molecular epidemiology of dengue 2 viruses in the Philippines: genotype shift and local evolution

The pre-membrane (prM) and envelope (E) genes of 41 viruses isolated from dengue fever (DF), dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), and dengue shock syndrome (DSS) patients from 1995 to 2002 were sequenced to determine the genetic variability of dengue 2 (DENV 2) viruses in the Philippines. The envelope sequence data were compared with a global sample of DENV 2 obtained from GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that two distinct genotypes, Asian 2 and Cosmopolitan, are currently circulating locally, each with the potential to cause severe hemorrhagic disease. After the initial isolation in 1998, the Cosmopolitan genotype has gradually and effectively replaced Asian genotype 2 in the Philippines. Members of this genotype were closely related to viruses from Australia, Singapore, and Thailand.