Evaluation of Molecular Detection for Viral Hemorrhagic Infection Cases of Yellow Fever and Dengue Fever in Côte d’Ivoire 2010-2012, West Africa

Background: Viral hemorrhagic fevers are emergent and endemic in Africa and in South America. In Côte d’Ivoire, Yellow fever cases were reported yearly and the distribution of mosquitoes in the country are the main factors for high incidence of Flaviviruses. The poorly reporting of viral hemorrhagic fever cases in some regions, the lack of international interest land and the underestimation of molecular surveillance method contribute to increase the risk for public health.
Objectives: To evaluate the performance of molecular diagnostic methods in national surveillance of two emergent Flaviviruses, Yellow fever virus and Dengue virus in Côte d’Ivoire.
Study Design: 63 sera from suspected cases in 2010-2011 of viral hemorrhagic fevers were analyzed to detect viral RNA of Flaviviruses and to compare the results in three different methods.
Results and Conclusion: The Flavivirus RT-PCR has showed the high molecular detection by12% and 6% for real time PCR. The methods are specific and high sensitive for the screening of tick and mosquito-borne Flaviviruses in clinical samples. This study confirms the high circulation of Flaviviruses and the introduction of Dengue virus in Côte d’Ivoire. The combination of real time PCR and the Flavivirus RT-PCR contribute to ameliorate the detection panel of molecular detection in Côte d’Ivoire and was a suitable method for the National Laboratory Reference.