Dengue virus non-structural Protein-1 expression and associated risk factors among febrile Patients attending University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundDengue is a mosquito-borne and neglected tropical viral disease that has been reported to be hyper-endemic in Nigeria. However, this is the first dengue study in Abuja. ObjectiveThis hospital-based cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of Dengue virus (DENV) non-structural protein-1 (NS1) antigenaemia, anti-Dengue virus IgG and their associated risk factors among febrile patients attending the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH), Nigeria. Materials and methodsFrom May to August 2016, blood samples were individually collected from 171 consented participants. These samples were analyzed using DENV NS1 and anti-DENV IgG Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Well-structured questionnaires was used to collect sociodemographic variables of participants. ResultsOut of the 171 participants, the prevalence of Dengue virus NS1 antigenaemia and IgG seropositivity were 8.8% and 43.3%, respectively. Three (1.8%) of the patients were NS1 (+) IgG (−), 12 (7.0%) had NS1 (+) IgG (+), 62 (36.3%) were NS1 (−) IgG (+), while 97 (56.7%) of the remaining patients were NS1 (−) IgG (−). There was statistical association between DENV NS1 antigenaemia with age of patients (p=0.034), residence in proximity to waste dumpsites (p<0.0001) but not with occupation of patients (p=0.166), use of indoor insecticide sprays (p=0.4910) and presence of household artificial water containers (p=0.3650). There was statistical association between the prevalence of anti-Dengue virus IgG with occupation (p=0.0034) and education level of patients (p<0.001). However, there was no statistical association between the prevalence of anti-Dengue virus IgG with gender (p=0.4060) and residential area of patients (p=0.3896). ConclusionFindings from this study revealed that DENV infection is one of the etiological agents of acute febrile illnesses in Abuja. It’s recommended that Dengue testing be considered during differential diagnosis of febrile patients.