The whole‐genome sequencing of prevalent DENV‐1 strains during the largest dengue virus outbreak in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture in 2019

Abstract In 2019, a serious dengue virus (DENV) infection broke out in the Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, China. Therefore, we conducted a molecular epidemiological analysis in people that contracted DENV serotype 1 (DENV‐1) during this year. We analyzed the molecular epidemiology of six DENV‐1 epidemic strains in 2019 by full‐length genome sequencing, amino acid mutation site analysis, evolutionary tree analysis, and recombination site comparison analysis. Through the analysis of amino acid mutation sites, it was found that DENV‐1 strain (MW386867) was different from the other five epidemic DENV‐1 strains in Xishuangbanna in 2019. MW386867 had unique mutation sites at six loci. The six epidemic DENV‐1 strains in Xishuangbanna in 2019 were divided into two clusters. MW386867 was highly similar to the MG679800 (Myanmar 2017), MG679801 (Myanmar 2017), and KC172834 (Laos 2008), and the other five strains were highly similar to JQ045660 (Vietnam 2011), FJ176780 (GuangDong 2006). Genetic recombination analysis revealed that there was no recombination signal in the six epidemic DENV‐1 strains in Xishuangbanna in 2019. We speculate that the DENV‐1 epidemic in 2019 has a co‐epidemic of local strains and cross‐border strains.