Abstract
BackgroundSince 2006, Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has re-emerged as an important pathogen of global concern. However, individual and household factors associated with the acquisition and the magnitude of clinically silent CHIKV infections remain poorly understood. In this present study, we aimed to investigate the seroprevalence, estimate the proportion of symptomatic illness and identify the risk factors for CHIKV infection in the primo-exposed population of Mayotte.Methods/ Principal FindingsWe conducted a household-based cross sectional serosurvey in Mayotte in November and December 2006 using complex multistage cluster sampling. To produce the results representative of the island population aged 2 years or older, sample data were adjusted with sample weights. Explanatory and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate associations between CHIKV infection seropositivity (presence of IgM and/or IgG to CHIKV by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay) and risk factors. A total of 1154 individuals were analyzed. The overall seroprevalence of CHIKV infection was 37·2% (95% CI = 33·9–40·5), 318 (72·3%) of the seropositive participants reported symptoms consistent with a CHIKV infection during the epidemic period. Risk factors for CHIKV seropositivity among adults (aged 15 years and older) were male gender, low socioeconomic index, schooling ≤6 years and living in makeshift housing.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that roughly one out of four CHIKV infections is asymptomatic. Conditions associated with poverty may be considered as critical in CHIKV acquisition. Thus, these conditions should be taken into account in the development of future prevention strategies of CHIKV disease.
Highlights
Conditions associated with poverty may be considered as critical in Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) acquisition
These conditions should be taken into account in the development of future prevention strategies of CHIKV disease
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes of the genus Aedes [1]
Summary
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes of the genus Aedes [1]. CHIKV fever appears suddenly as a non-specific febrile illness often associated with pronounced polyarthralgia and a skin rash. These clinical manifestations resolve within 7 days [7,8]. Several worrying facets of CHIKV infection have recently been revealed in areas with access to sophisticated medical infrastructure in a number of welldocumented epidemics. These include peripartum mother-toinfant transmission [13], severe neurological involvement [14] and mortality [15,16]. We aimed to investigate the seroprevalence, estimate the proportion of symptomatic illness and identify the risk factors for CHIKV infection in the primo-exposed population of Mayotte
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
