Abstract
After the mass campaign of Measles and Rubella vaccination in 2003 in Iran, the cases of measles and rubella infection decreased but still, the cases of rash and fever were reported. It is worth noting that some other viral infections show signs similar to measles and rubella such as some arboviruses. Considering the epidemic outbreak of arbovirus infections in countries neighbouring Iran, we performed this study to estimate the possibility of chikungunya and dengue fever among measles and rubella IgM negative patients presenting with rash and fever from December 2016 to November 2017 in the National Measles Laboratory at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Serum samples were selected at random from patients from eight provinces. The presence of DENV IgM and CHIKV IgM was examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of the 1306 sera tested, 210 were CHIKV seropositive and 82 were dengue seropositive. Statistical analysis demonstrated a significant increase in the CHIKV IgM antibody seropositivity rate in Kerman (OR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.10-3.92; P = 0.024) and Fars (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.06-2.93; P = 0.027). The DENV and CHIKV seropositivity rate in summer is higher than in other seasons (P < 0.01). Our seropositive samples suggest possible CHIKV and DENV infection in Iran. It is likely that these viruses are circulating in Iran and there is a need to study vector carriage of these two viruses.
Highlights
Measles and rubella infections in Iran decreased due to the mass campaign of measles and rubella vaccination in 2003 [1] but still, there are suspected cases
The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) transmission between humans occurs through different Aedes species including Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes which are distributed throughout the world [4, 12]
Iran is bordered to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan and to the west by Turkey and Iraq, countries where epidemics and endemics of arboviruses including CHIKV and DENV have occurred [13, 14]
Summary
Measles and rubella infections in Iran decreased due to the mass campaign of measles and rubella vaccination in 2003 [1] but still, there are suspected cases. Arboviruses cause some of the most important emerging infectious diseases which are associated with fever and rash in tropical and subtropical regions [4, 5] Of these viruses, chikungunya virus (CHIKV) belonging to the alphavirus genus in the Togaviridae family[6] has re-emerged in Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, South and Southeast Asia, with an emergence seen in the Americas, the Pacific and Europe due to the transatlantic and transpacific migration of patients [7]. Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) belonging to the alphavirus genus in the Togaviridae family[6] has re-emerged in Africa, the Indian Ocean islands, South and Southeast Asia, with an emergence seen in the Americas, the Pacific and Europe due to the transatlantic and transpacific migration of patients [7] Another arbovirus is dengue virus (DENV), an RNA virus that belongs to the Flaviviridae family with four closely related but antigenically different DENV serotypes 1–4 [8]. Iran is bordered to the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan and to the west by Turkey and Iraq, countries where epidemics and endemics of arboviruses including CHIKV and DENV have occurred [13, 14]
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