Abstract
The objective of this study is to characterize the seroprevalence of anti-dengue (DENV) and anti-chikungunya (CHIKV) antibodies among blood donors residing in Qatar who are Middle East and North Africa (MENA) nationals and non-nationals. Sera were collected from adult blood donors in Qatar from 2013 to 2016 and tested for anti-DENV and anti-CHIKV IgG using commercial microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Age-specific seroprevalence was summarized by region/nationality: Asia (India, Philippines), Middle East (Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine, Syria, Yemen), North Africa (Egypt, Sudan), Qatar. The adjusted odds of anti-DENV and anti-CHIKV IgG seropositivity was estimated by logistic regression. Among 1,992 serum samples tested, Asian nationals had higher adjusted odds of being seropositive for anti-DENV antibodies compared to nationals of the Middle East (aOR 0.05, 95% CI 0.04–0.07), North Africa (aOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.10–0.20), and Qatar (aOR 0.01, 95% CI 0.01–0.03). Asian nationals also had higher adjusted odds of being seropositive for anti-CHIKV antibodies compared to those from the Middle East (aOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.07–0.27), North Africa (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.26–0.96), and Qatar (aOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15–0.96). The adjusted odds of being anti-DENV seropositive was higher among anti-CHIKV seropositive adults, and vice versa (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.09–3.44), suggesting co-circulation of these viruses. DENV and CHIKV exposure is lower in Qatar and MENA nationals compared to Asian nationals suggesting a lower burden of DENV and CHIKV disease in the MENA. Antibodies to both viruses were detected in nationals from most MENA countries, supporting the need to better understand the regional epidemiology of these viruses.
Highlights
Dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses rank among the most important causes of arboviral diseases in the world, their epidemiology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is sparsely characterized [1, 2]
The country-specific overall seroprevalence for anti-DENV IgG ranged from 3.5% in Qatar to 95.8% in the Philippines
For anti-CHIKV IgG, overall seroprevalence ranged from 0% in Iran to 17.7% in the Philippines
Summary
Dengue (DENV) and chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses rank among the most important causes of arboviral diseases in the world, their epidemiology in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is sparsely characterized [1, 2]. The expansion of DENV in neighboring Saudi Arabia and Yemen underscores the importance of understanding the epidemiology of these pathogens and their potential for spread in Qatar and the surrounding region. MENA nationals from Egypt, Pakistan, Syria, Sudan, Jordan, Iran, and Lebanon are estimated to make up approximately 22% of the country’s population [15]. In most of these countries, local DENV or CHIKV transmission, serologic evidence of past infection, or the presence of Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus has been documented, yet published epidemiologic data is lacking
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