Serological evidence of rift valley fever virus among acute febrile patients in Southern Mozambique during and after the 2013 heavy rainfall and flooding: implication for the management of febrile illness.

Eduardo Samo Gudo,Américo Feriano José,Chantel Le Roux,Gabriela Pinto,Janusz Tadeusz Paweska,Arcildo Mandlaze,Jacqueline Weyer,Argentina Muianga

doi:10.1186/s12985-016-0542-2

Eduardo Samo Gudo, Américo Feriano José + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-016-0542-2

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Abstract

BackgroundRift Valley fever virus (RVFV) remains heavily neglected in humans in Mozambique, even though recent outbreaks were reported in neighboring countries in humans and several cases of RVFV in cattle were reported in several districts in Mozambique.FindingsWe conducted a cross sectional study during and after severe flooding that occurred in 2013 in Mozambique. Paired acute and convalescent serum samples were tested from febrile patients attending a primary health care unit in a suburban area of Maputo city for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies against Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seroconversion of IgG anti-RVFV was observed in 5 % (10/200) of convalescent patients and specific IgM anti-RVFV was detected in one acute patient (0.5 %; 1/200). All sera from acute patient tested negative by real time PCR.ConclusionIn conclusion, our results suggest that RVF represent an important but neglected cause of febrile illness following periods of flooding in southern Mozambique.

Highlights

In conclusion, our results suggest that RVF represent an important but neglected cause of febrile illness following periods of flooding in southern Mozambique
Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) is a mosquito borne zoonotic virus that has emerged as an important cause of febrile illness in several sub-Saharan countries [1,2,3,4,5], including those that share their borders with Mozambique, such as Tanzania and South Africa [4, 6,7,8]
In term of diagnostic and therapeutic implications, 6 out of 9 (67 %) patients who met the case definition for acute Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) infection were misdiagnosed as malaria and treated with anti malarial medication

Summary

Introduction

Rift Valley Fever Virus (RVFV) is a mosquito borne zoonotic virus that has emerged as an important cause of febrile illness in several sub-Saharan countries [1,2,3,4,5], including those that share their borders with Mozambique, such as Tanzania and South Africa [4, 6,7,8]. The likelihood that RVF causes disease in humans in Mozambique is high because of the geographical proximity, environmental similarities and frequent trade between Mozambique and Recent publications demonstrated that anti-RVFV IgG was often detected in cattle in Maputo and Gaza Province, both situated in the southern Mozambique [9,10,11], and in two rural villages in the center of the country [12]. Clinical presentation of RVFV resembles that of malaria, leading to misdiagnosis of malaria, mistreatment with anti-malarial drugs [16] and inappropriate management of febrile illness Given this gap in the literature, we conducted this study with the aim to investigate the burden of RVFV in febrile patients in southern Mozambique during and after the heavy rainfall and flooding that occurred in 2013. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) remains heavily neglected in humans in Mozambique, even though recent outbreaks were reported in neighboring countries in humans and several cases of RVFV in cattle were reported in several districts in Mozambique

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