Resumen

NOLASCO, Oscar, CARRILLO, Carlos, GUTIERREZ, Victoria et al. Diagnóstico temprano en un brote epidémico del virus Dengue en Piura usando RT-PCR y nested-PCR. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica, jul./dic 1997, vol.14, no.2, p.13-17. ISSN 1726-4634.

An early diagnostic test (RT-PCR and Nested-PCR) was assessed and compared with conventional methods (in vitro culture, IFI and MAC-ELISA). Thirty four sera of patients corresponding to a dengue virus outbreak from the Peruvian North Coast (Mancora, Piura) in May 1997 were included in this study. All sera were obtained from patients suffering the first five days of clinical manifestation and were diagnosed as dengue. Likewise, RT-PCR was able to diagnose 82% sera (28/34) however MAC-ELISA and in vitro culture recognised only 41% sera (14/34) and 38% sera (13/34) respectively. Therefore, the use of this molecular tool (RT-PCR and Nested-PCR) will allow to give an early diagnosis to the patients and to act immediately in the presence of an epidemic outbreak.

Palabras llave: Dengue; RT-PCR; Nested; PCR; Peru.