Chikungunya and dengue fever among hospitalized febrile patients in northern Tanzania

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2012 Jan;86(1):171-7. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0393.

Abstract

Consecutive febrile admissions were enrolled at two hospitals in Moshi, Tanzania. Confirmed acute Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), and flavivirus infection were defined as a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) result. Presumptive acute DENV infection was defined as a positive anti-DENV immunoglobulin M (IgM) enzyme-linked immunsorbent assay (ELISA) result, and prior flavivirus exposure was defined as a positive anti-DENV IgG ELISA result. Among 870 participants, PCR testing was performed on 700 (80.5%). Of these, 55 (7.9%) had confirmed acute CHIKV infection, whereas no participants had confirmed acute DENV or flavivirus infection. Anti-DENV IgM serologic testing was performed for 747 (85.9%) participants, and of these 71 (9.5%) had presumptive acute DENV infection. Anti-DENV IgG serologic testing was performed for 751 (86.3%) participants, and of these 80 (10.7%) had prior flavivirus exposure. CHIKV infection was more common among infants and children than adults and adolescents (odds ratio [OR] 1.9, P = 0.026) and among HIV-infected patients with severe immunosuppression (OR 10.5, P = 0.007). CHIKV infection is an important but unrecognized cause of febrile illness in northern Tanzania. DENV or other closely related flaviviruses are likely also circulating.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alphavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Alphavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Alphavirus Infections / immunology
  • Alphavirus Infections / virology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Chikungunya Fever
  • Chikungunya virus / genetics
  • Chikungunya virus / immunology
  • Chikungunya virus / isolation & purification
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dengue / diagnosis
  • Dengue / epidemiology*
  • Dengue / immunology
  • Dengue / virology
  • Dengue Virus / genetics
  • Dengue Virus / immunology
  • Dengue Virus / isolation & purification
  • Female
  • Fever / epidemiology
  • Fever / etiology*
  • Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Tanzania / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin M