Title
Surveillance of Vector-Borne Infections (Chikungunya, Dengue, and Malaria) in Bo, Sierra Leone, 2012–2013
Document Type
Article
DOI
10.4269/ajtmh.16-0798
Publication Date
8-7-2017
Abstract
Malaria remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in West Africa, but the contributionof other vector-borne infections (VBIs) to the burden ofdisease has been understudied. We used rapid diagnostictests(RDTs)forthreeVBIstotestbloodsamplesfrom1,795 febrile residents of Bo City, Sierra Leone, over a1-year period in 2012–2013. In total, 24% of the tests were positive for malaria, fewer than 5% were positive formarkers of dengue virus infection, and 39% were positivefor IgM directed against chikungunya virus (CHIKV) or arelated alphavirus. In total, more than half (55%) of thesefebrile individuals tested positive for at least one of thethree VBIs, which highlights the very high burden of vector-borne diseases in this population. The prevalence ofpositives on the Chikungunya IgM and dengue tests did not vary significantly with age (P> 0.36), but higher ratesof malaria were observed in children < 15 years of age (P< 0.001). Positive results on the Chikungunya IgM RDTswere moderately correlated with rainfall (r2= 0.599). Based on the high prevalence of positive results on theChikungunya IgM RDTs from individuals Bo and its environs, there is a need to examine whether an ecologicalshift toward a greater burden from CHIKV or related alphaviruses is occurring in other parts of Sierra Leone or theWest African region
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2017, The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Recommended Citation
Dariano DF 3rd Taitt CR, Jacobsen KH, Bangura U, Bockarie AS, Bockarie MJ, Lahai J, Lamin JM, Leski TA, Yasuda C, Stenger DA, Ansumana R. Surveillance of vector-borne infections (chikungunya, dengue, and malaria) in Bo, Sierra Leone, 2012–2013. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2017 Oct; 97(4): 1151–1154.