Dengue Seroprevalence and Seroconversion in Urban and Rural Populations in Northeastern Thailand and Southern Laos

Dyna Doum, Hans J. Overgaard, Mayfong Mayxay, Sutas Suttiprapa, Prasert Saichua, Tipaya Ekalaksananan, Panwad Tongchai, Md. Siddikur Rahman, Ubydul Haque, Sysavanh Phommachanh, Tiengkham Pongvongsa, Joacim Rocklöv, Richard Paul and Chamsai Pientong
Additional contact information
Dyna Doum: Tropical Medicine Graduate Program, Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Hans J. Overgaard: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Mayfong Mayxay: Institute of Research and Education Development (IRED), University of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 7444, Vientiane 43130, Laos
Sutas Suttiprapa: Tropical Medicine Graduate Program, Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Prasert Saichua: Tropical Medicine Graduate Program, Academic Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Tipaya Ekalaksananan: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Panwad Tongchai: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Md. Siddikur Rahman: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Ubydul Haque: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76177, USA
Sysavanh Phommachanh: Institute of Research and Education Development (IRED), University of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 7444, Vientiane 43130, Laos
Tiengkham Pongvongsa: Savannakhet Provincial Health Department, Savannakhet 13000, Laos
Joacim Rocklöv: Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
Richard Paul: Unité de la Génétique Fonctionnelle des Maladies Infectieuses, Institut Pasteur, CNRS UMR 2000, 75015 Paris, France
Chamsai Pientong: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-19

Abstract: Dengue is the most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease in the world. The detection of clinical cases enables us to measure the incidence of dengue infection, whereas serological surveys give insights into the prevalence of infection. This study aimed to determine dengue seroprevalence and seroconversion rates in northeastern Thailand and southern Laos and to assess any association of mosquito control methods and socioeconomic factors with dengue virus (DENV) infection. Cross-sectional seroprevalence surveys were performed in May and November 2019 on the same individuals. Blood samples were collected from one adult and one child, when possible, in each of 720 randomly selected households from two urban and two rural sites in both northeastern Thailand and southern Laos. IgG antibodies against DENV were detected in serum using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Overall, 1071 individuals participated in the study. The seroprevalence rate was high (91.5%) across all 8 study sites. Only age and province were associated with seroprevalence rates. There were 33 seroconversions during the period from May to November, of which seven reported fever. More than half of the seroconversions occurred in the rural areas and in Laos. Dengue seroconversion was significantly associated with young age (<15 years old), female gender, province, and duration of living in the current residence. No socioeconomic factors or mosquito control methods were found to be associated with seroprevalence or seroconversion. Notably, however, the province with most seroconversions had lower diurnal temperature ranges than elsewhere. In conclusion, our study has highlighted the homogeneity of dengue exposure across a wide range of settings and most notably those from rural and urban areas. Dengue can no longer be considered to be solely an urban disease nor necessarily one linked to poverty.

Keywords: dengue; DENV; seroprevalence; seroconversion; socioeconomic factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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