Seroprevalence and distribution of arboviral infections among rural Kenyan adults: a cross-sectional study - PubMed (original) (raw)

Seroprevalence and distribution of arboviral infections among rural Kenyan adults: a cross-sectional study

Luke E Mease et al. Virol J. 2011.

Abstract

Background: Arthorpod-borne viruses (arboviruses) cause wide-spread morbidity in sub-Saharan Africa, but little research has documented the burden and distribution of these pathogens.

Methods: Using a population-based, cross-sectional study design, we administered a detailed questionnaire and used ELISA to test the blood of 1,141 healthy Kenyan adults from three districts for the presence of anti-viral Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to the following viruses: dengue (DENV), West Nile (WNV), yellow fever (YFV), Chikungunya (CHIKV), and Rift Valley fever (RVFV).

Results: Of these, 14.4% were positive for DENV, 9.5% were WNV positive, 9.2% were YFV positive, 34.0% were positive for CHIKV and 0.7% were RVFV positive. In total, 46.6% had antibodies to at least one of these arboviruses.

Conclusions: For all arboviruses, district of residence was strongly associated with seropositivity. Seroprevalence to YFV, DENV and WNV increased with age, while there was no correlation between age and seropositivity for CHIKV, suggesting that much of the seropositivity to CHIKV is due to sporadic epidemics. Paradoxically, literacy was associated with increased seropositivity of CHIKV and DENV.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Map of Kenya with locations of study sites in Busia, Malindi and Samburu districts sampled June-September 2004. Map is shown in relation to annual precipitation. Darker areas represent greater average precipitation, from a 50 year average. Data from

http://www.worldclim.org

.

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